雙語智慧書·不要沖動行事

69．不要沖動行事
　　不要沖動行事。從不為他人印象所左右的人是了不起的。自我反省可以提升智慧。了解自身秉性，并加以注意，甚至有意識地反其道而行，平衡修養(yǎng)與天性。提升自我始于認識自我。有的人性情怪異、變幻莫測，這樣或那樣的情緒擺布他們，代替了他們真正的意愿。他們的心智因這種不和諧而分裂，于是做事總是自相矛盾。這種放浪的性格會破壞他們的意志，打擊他們的判斷力，并使他們的欲望與理智背道而馳。


69．Do not give way to every common impulse
　Do not give way to every common impulse. He is a great man who never allows himself to be influenced by the impressions of others. Self-reflection is the school of wisdom. To know one's disposition and to allow for it, even going to the other extreme so as to find a balance between nature and art. Self-knowledge is the beginning of self-improvement. There are some whose humors are so monstrous that they are always under the influence of one or other of them, and put them in place of their real inclinations. They are torn asunder by such disharmony and get involved in contradictory obligations. Such excesses not only destroy firmness of will; all power of judgment gets lost, desire and knowledge pulling in opposite directions.