避免惹人厌烦。无论何时招人烦都不对——别人的厌烦常常不请自来。许多人总是毫无道理地憎恶别人。我们来不及取悦他们,因为他们的憎恶总会提前而至。他们生性恶劣,宁可损人还不利己。有些人想方设法与人交恶,因为他们总在制造不悦,或本身就心情不悦。他们一旦有了憎恶之心,就不易消除,正如恶名难除一样。明智之人被人敬畏,恶毒之人遭人憎恨,傲慢之人被人鄙视,滑稽之人被人轻视,古怪之人遭人排斥。因此,想要受人重视,就得先重视他人;想获得敬重,就先敬重别人。
avoid becoming disliked. there is no occasion to seek dislike: it comes without seeking quickly enough. there are many who hate of their own accord without knowing the why or the how. their ill-will outruns our readiness to please. their ill-nature is more prone to do others harm than their cupidity is eager to gain advantage for themselves. some manage to be on bad terms with all, because they always either produce or experience vexation of spirit. once hate has taken root it is, like bad repute, difficult to eradicate. wise men are feared, the malevolent are abhorred, the arrogant are regarded with disdain, buffoons with contempt, eccentrics with neglect. therefore pay respect that you may be respected, and know that to be esteemed you must show esteem.