双语智慧书·不要去填补前人留下的巨大空缺
153．不要去填补前人留下的巨大空缺
不要去填补前人留下的巨大空缺。若你要做，你要确定可以超越你的前任。可是仅仅与其平分秋色，就需双倍的成就。让接任者怀念我们，这招很妙；不让前任的光彩将你掩盖，这也是一种策略。填补大空缺很难，因为人们总是厚古薄今。只与前任不相上下是远远不够的，前任有占先的优势。所以，你要有额外的资格，才能取前人盛名而代之。
153．Beware of entering where there is a great gap to be filled
Beware of entering where there is a great gap to be filled. But if you do be sure to surpass your predecessor; merely to equal him requires twice his worth. As it is a fine stroke to arrange that our successor shall cause us to be wished back, so it is policy to see that our predecessor does not eclipse us. To fill a great gap is difficult, for the past always seems best, and to equal the predecessor is not enough, since he has the right of first possession. You must therefore possess additional claims to oust the other from his hold on public opinion.
不要去填补前人留下的巨大空缺。若你要做，你要确定可以超越你的前任。可是仅仅与其平分秋色，就需双倍的成就。让接任者怀念我们，这招很妙；不让前任的光彩将你掩盖，这也是一种策略。填补大空缺很难，因为人们总是厚古薄今。只与前任不相上下是远远不够的，前任有占先的优势。所以，你要有额外的资格，才能取前人盛名而代之。
153．Beware of entering where there is a great gap to be filled
Beware of entering where there is a great gap to be filled. But if you do be sure to surpass your predecessor; merely to equal him requires twice his worth. As it is a fine stroke to arrange that our successor shall cause us to be wished back, so it is policy to see that our predecessor does not eclipse us. To fill a great gap is difficult, for the past always seems best, and to equal the predecessor is not enough, since he has the right of first possession. You must therefore possess additional claims to oust the other from his hold on public opinion.
