雙語智慧書·贏得并維護(hù)美名

97．贏得并維護(hù)美名
　　贏得并維護(hù)美名。我們對榮譽(yù)，只有使用權(quán)，而無所有權(quán)。美名來之不易，它只青睞非凡之人，而這種人是十分罕見的，庸人則俯拾皆是。美名一旦擁有，便容易保持。獲得好名聲要承擔(dān)許多義務(wù)，但也給你更多恩惠。如果美名出自顯赫的權(quán)力或高尚的行為，則自有其威嚴(yán)，令人崇拜。美名只有根基深固，才能永恒。


97．Obtain and preserve a reputation
　Obtain and preserve a reputation. It is the usufruct of fame. It is expensive to obtain a reputation, for it only attaches to distinguished abilities, which are as rare as mediocrities are common. Once obtained, it is easily preserved. It confers many an obligation, but it does more. When it is owing to elevated powers or lofty spheres of action, it rises to a kind of veneration and yields a sort of majesty. But it is only a well-founded reputation that lasts permanently.