双语智慧书·获得自己合适的位置，凭德行而非逾越

199．获得自己合适的位置，凭德行而非逾越
　　获得自己合适的位置，凭德行而非僭越。获得他人尊重的正确途径是凭借德行，若有努力做伴，路途就会更短。只有正直是不够的，拼命争取也不体面--这样获得的东西会布满灰尘，这种耻辱会破坏名声。正确的途径是二者皆用：将要到达某个位置时，鞭策自己，冲刺抵达。


199．To find a proper place by merit, not by presumption
　To find a proper place by merit, not by presumption. The true road to respect is through merit, and if industry accompany merit the path becomes shorter. Integrity alone is not sufficient, push and insistence is degrading, for things arrive by that means so besprinkled with dust that the discredit destroys reputation. The true way is the middle one, halfway between deserving a place and pushing oneself into it.