雙語智慧書·不要把一個錯誤變成兩個錯誤
214．不要把一個錯誤變成兩個錯誤
不要把一個錯誤變成兩個錯誤。人們總是為了挽救一個錯誤，再犯四個錯誤；為了一次大意找借口，往往要再次大意。愚蠢不是謊言的親戚，就是謊言的家人，因為它們都需要幾個來支持一個。做了錯事還辯解最糟糕，比罪過還糟糕的就是不能掩飾罪過。為一次過錯支付撫恤金就夠了，不要負擔更多。智者也會做錯事，但不會一錯再錯。即使滑倒，也是奔跑之時的大意，而非站立之時的故意。
214．Do not turn one blunder into two
Do not turn one blunder into two. It is quite usual to commit four others in order to remedy one, or to excuse one piece of impertinence by still another. Folly is either related to, or identical with the family of Lies, for in both cases it needs many to support one. The worst of a bad case is having to fight it, and worse than the ill itself is not being able to conceal it. The annuity of one failing serves to support many others. A wise man may make one slip but never two, and that only in running, not while standing still.
不要把一個錯誤變成兩個錯誤。人們總是為了挽救一個錯誤，再犯四個錯誤；為了一次大意找借口，往往要再次大意。愚蠢不是謊言的親戚，就是謊言的家人，因為它們都需要幾個來支持一個。做了錯事還辯解最糟糕，比罪過還糟糕的就是不能掩飾罪過。為一次過錯支付撫恤金就夠了，不要負擔更多。智者也會做錯事，但不會一錯再錯。即使滑倒，也是奔跑之時的大意，而非站立之時的故意。
214．Do not turn one blunder into two
Do not turn one blunder into two. It is quite usual to commit four others in order to remedy one, or to excuse one piece of impertinence by still another. Folly is either related to, or identical with the family of Lies, for in both cases it needs many to support one. The worst of a bad case is having to fight it, and worse than the ill itself is not being able to conceal it. The annuity of one failing serves to support many others. A wise man may make one slip but never two, and that only in running, not while standing still.
