雙語智慧書·決不因同情而卷入他人的不幸

163．決不因同情而卷入他人的不幸
　　決不因同情而卷入他人的不幸。一人的不幸也許是另一人的幸運。因為如果沒有很多人的不幸，他又怎能走運？不幸之人的一個特點就是經(jīng)常激起人們的善心。人們試圖用于事無補(bǔ)的恩惠來補(bǔ)償他所受到的打擊。結(jié)果那些發(fā)達(dá)時人人妒忌之人，身處逆境之時，突然成了無人不憐的對象。人們對他高飛之時的仇恨，轉(zhuǎn)化為對他落難之時的同情。但是，我們不應(yīng)忘記命運是如何洗牌的。有的人總是與不幸之人結(jié)交，總讓昔日飛黃騰達(dá)之人可憐兮兮地站在他身邊。這也許顯示其靈魂的高尚，但并不能表明其處世之智慧。


163．Never, from sympathy with the unfortunate, involve yourself in his fate
　Never, from sympathy with the unfortunate, involve yourself in his fate. One man's misfortune is another man's luck, for one cannot be lucky without many being unlucky. It is a peculiarity of the unfortunate to arouse people's goodwill, who desire to compensate them for the blows of fortune with their useless favour, and it happens that one who was abhorred by all in prosperity is adored by all in adversity. Vengeance on the wing is exchanged for compassion afoot. Yet it is to be noticed how fate shuffles the cards. There are men who always consort with the unlucky, and he that yesterday flew high and happy stands today miserable at their side. That argues nobility of soul, but not worldly wisdom.