善其事必先利其器。一些人以使用低劣的工具来证明其技高一筹。这是一种危险的自满，若遭遇重大挫折，实是咎由自取。臣子的优秀绝不会使君王的伟大有所减损。所有丰功伟业都归于领袖，就像他们也要承担所有责难一样。名誉女神只与领袖打交道，她从不说“这人有良臣，那人有劣将”，她只是说“这人高明，那人低劣”。因此，你需要仔细地挑选并考察助手，因为你要依赖他们以成就不朽的盛名。
use good instruments. some would have the subtlety of their wits proven by the poorness of their instruments. it is a dangerous satisfaction, and deserves a fatal punishment. the excellence of a minister never diminished the greatness of his lord. all the glory of exploits reverts to the principal actor; also all the blame. fame only does business with principals. she does not say, "this had good, that had bad servants," but, "this was a good artist, that a bad one." let your assistants be selected and tested therefore, for you have to trust to them for an immortality of fame.
