双语智慧书·学会控制自己

207．学会控制自己
　　学会控制自己。你必须考虑意外灾祸的发生。冲动会让你失去谨慎，甚至招致毁灭。一瞬间的愤怒或者喜悦，要比长时间的平静导致更多的失控，而短暂的失控也许会让你一生蒙羞。他人狡猾地利用这种机会来诱惑你，想查看你的内心，以探知你谨慎的限度。自控就是对策，且对突发的紧急事件尤其适用。为防止冲动，你要再三考虑--马背上的智者需要双倍的聪明。懂得危险之人会谨慎行事。如果脱口而出，也许言者无心，但可能听者有意。


207．Be moderate
　Be moderate. One has to consider the chance of a mischance. The impulses of the passions cause prudence to slip, and there is the risk of ruin. A moment of wrath or of pleasure carries you on farther than many hours of calm, and often a short diversion may put a whole life to shame. The cunning of others uses such moments of temptation to search the recesses of the mind: they use such thumbscrews as are wont to test the best caution. Moderation serves as a counterplot, especially in sudden emergencies. Much thought is needed to prevent a passion taking the bit in the teeth, and he is doubly wise who is wise on horseback. He who knows the danger may with care pursue his journey. Light as a word may appear to him who throws it out, it may import much to him that hears it and ponders on it.