165.斗争也要讲体面

165.斗争也要讲体面

斗争也要讲体面。有时,你不得不与人斗争,但不要使用毒箭。每个人都应按本色行事,不为他人所迫。在人生之战中,英勇可以赢得众人的赞赏——征服敌人,不仅要靠力量,还要靠道义。卑鄙的征服不能带来荣耀,只会让人感到耻辱。有荣誉的一方总是占优势。值得尊敬之人从来都不会使被禁之武器,比如不会利用友谊来达到仇恨之目的,并最终导致友谊的破裂:不把别人对自己的信任用作报复。最轻微的背叛也会玷污你的名誉;即便一点点卑鄙的痕迹也会被有荣誉感的人鄙视——高尚与卑鄙势不两立。你要能自豪地宣称:哪怕勇气、慷慨和忠诚都被世人遗弃,也一定藏于你心。

165.Wage war honourably

Wage war honourably. You may be obliged to wage war, but not to use poisoned arrows. Everyone must needs act as he is, not as others would make him to be. Gallantry in the battle of life wins all men's praise: one should fight so as to conquer, not alone by force but by the way it is used. A mean victory brings no glory, but rather disgrace. Honour always has the upper hand. An honourable man never uses forbidden weapons, such as using a friendship that's ended for the purposes of a hatred just begun: a confidence must never be used for a vengeance. The slightest taint of treason tarnishes the good name. In men of honour the smallest trace of meanness repels: the noble and the ignoble should be miles apart. Be able to boast that if gallantry, generosity, and fidelity were lost in the world men would be able to find them again in your own breast.