84.善用對手
善用對手。處事如同操刀--抓刀刃會傷手,抓刀柄則可防身。對付敵人更需奉行這一原則。明智之人在對手身上發(fā)現(xiàn)的用處比蠢人在朋友身上發(fā)現(xiàn)的用處還要多。惡意常??梢约?lì)我們克服本來不愿面對的重重困難,大多數(shù)人成就其偉業(yè),都應(yīng)歸功于自己的對手。比憎惡更危險(xiǎn)的是諂媚,別人的諂媚掩蓋了你的缺點(diǎn),而別人的憎惡則促使你消除瑕疵。智者把別人的惡意視為一面比善意更真實(shí)的鏡子,以減少或改正有關(guān)缺陷。每個(gè)人與對手或敵人比鄰而居時(shí),都會變得十分小心。
84.Make use of your enemies
Make use of your enemies. You should learn to seize things not by the blade, which cuts, but by the handle, which saves you from harm: especially is this the rule with the doings of your enemies. A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends. Their ill-will often levels mountains of difficulties which one would otherwise not face. Many have had their greatness made for them by their enemies. Flattery is more dangerous than hatred, because it covers the stains which the other causes to be wiped out. The wise will turn ill-will into a mirror more faithful than that of kindness, and remove or improve the faults referred to. Caution thrives well when rivalry and ill-will are next-door neighbours.