双语智慧书·抢先为上

63．抢先为上
　　抢先为上，若还能表现优异，则是好上加好。在棋手水平旗鼓相当的情况下，谁先走第一步，谁就占有很大的优势。许多人如能抢占先机，原本可以独占鳌头。领先之人才是名望的继承人，后来者只能作为次子，分到一点残羹冷炙。不管后来者如何费尽心机，总有鹦鹉学舌之嫌。杰出的天才总会小心谨慎，采用技巧另辟蹊径，以求卓越。因其事业之新，得以名垂青史。某些人却宁为鸡头，而不为凤尾。



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.