62.善其事必先利其器

62.善其事必先利其器

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。

62.Use good instruments

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.