雙語智慧書·避免惹人厭煩

119．避免惹人厭煩
　　避免惹人厭煩。無論何時招人煩都不對--別人的厭煩常常不請自來。許多人總是毫無道理地憎惡別人。我們來不及取悅他們，因為他們的憎惡總會提前而至。他們生性惡劣，寧可損人還不利己。有些人想方設法與人交惡，因為他們總在制造不悅，或本身就心情不悅。他們一旦有了憎惡之心，就不易消除，正如惡名難除一樣。明智之人被人敬畏，惡毒之人遭人憎恨，傲慢之人被人鄙視，滑稽之人被人輕視，古怪之人遭人排斥。因此，想要受人重視，就得先重視他人；想獲得敬重，就先敬重別人。



119．Avoid becoming disliked
　Avoid becoming disliked. There is no occasion to seek dislike: it comes without seeking quickly enough. There are many who hate of their own accord without knowing the why or the how. Their ill-will outruns our readiness to please. Their ill-nature is more prone to do others harm than their cupidity is eager to gain advantage for themselves. Some manage to be on bad terms with all, because they always either produce or experience vexation of spirit. Once hate has taken root it is, like bad repute, difficult to eradicate. Wise men are feared, the malevolent are abhorred, the arrogant are regarded with disdain, buffoons with contempt, eccentrics with neglect. Therefore pay respect that you may be respected, and know that to be esteemed you must show esteem.