预防流言蜚语。乌合之众是多头怪兽。他们长着多双伺机制造恶意的眼睛，一个滥施诽谤的舌头。一旦有一桩丑闻被传播，你清白的名声就会被玷污。如果流言再给你一个浑名绰号，你的声誉便危机四伏。一般而言，流言蜚语源于你身上的某些突出弱点或可笑缺陷。有时，这是个别嫉妒我们的人故意捏造出来的，以引发众人的猜忌。要毁掉他人的声誉，出自卑劣口舌的嘲讽比直接的控诉还要容易。恶名易得，因邪恶容易让人相信却难以消除。因此明智之人应避免这类灾祸，保持警惕防止那些卑劣的流言。预防可比纠正容易得多。
prevent scandal. many heads go to make the mob, and in each of them are eyes for malice to use and a tongue for detraction to wag. if a single ill report spread, it casts a blemish on your fair fame, and if it clings to you with a nickname, your reputation is in danger. generally it is some salient defect or ridiculous trait that gives rise to the rumours. at times these are malicious additions of private envy to general distrust. for there are wicked tongues that ruin a great reputation more easily by a witty sneer than by a direct accusation. it is easy to get into bad reputation, because it is easy to believe evil of anyone: it is not easy to clear yourself. the wise accordingly avoid these mischances, guarding against vulgar scandal with sedulous vigilance. it is far easier to prevent than to rectify.
