雙語智慧書·搶先為上

63．搶先為上
　　搶先為上，若還能表現優(yōu)異，則是好上加好。在棋手水平旗鼓相當的情況下，誰先走第一步，誰就占有很大的優(yōu)勢。許多人如能搶占先機，原本可以獨占鰲頭。領先之人才是名望的繼承人，后來者只能作為次子，分到一點殘羹冷炙。不管后來者如何費盡心機，總有鸚鵡學舌之嫌。杰出的天才總會小心謹慎，采用技巧另辟蹊徑，以求卓越。因其事業(yè)之新，得以名垂青史。某些人卻寧為雞頭，而不為鳳尾。



63．To be the first of the kind is an excellence
　To be the first of the kind is an excellence, and to be eminent in it as well, a double one. To have the first move is a great advantage when the players are equal. Many a man would have been a veritable Phonix if he had been the first of the sort. Those who come first are the heirs of Fame; the others get only a younger brother's allowance: whatever they do, they cannot persuade the world they are anything more than parrots. The skill of prodigies may find a new path to eminence, and prudence accompanies them all the way. By the novelty of their enterprises sages write their names in the golden book of heroes. Some prefer to be first in things of minor import than second in greater exploits.