雙語智慧書·不要傳播丑聞

228．不要傳播丑聞
　　不要傳播丑聞，更不要被人當作長舌婦，因為那樣等于犯了誹謗罪。不要總是誹謗他人，那樣做很容易，但會遭人憎恨；而且所有人都會想要報復你，說你壞話，因為你孤單一人，而他們人多力量大，所以你的失敗是必然的，他們不會相信你散布的謠言。不要對邪惡之事津津樂道，決不能把它當成談話的主題。背后詆毀他人者令人厭惡，如果偶爾有偉人與之交往，前者也只是樂于聽他的嘲諷，而不是尊重他的見解。說別人壞話的人，別人會把他說得更糟。


228．Do not be a scandal-monger
　Do not be a scandal-monger. Still less pass for one, for that means to be considered a slanderer. Do not be witty at the cost of others: it is easy but hateful. All men have their revenge on such an one by speaking ill of him, and as they are many and he but one, he is more likely to be overcome than they convinced. Evil should never be our pleasure, and therefore never our theme. The backbiter is always hated, and if now and then one of the great consorts with him, it is less from pleasure in his sneers than from esteem for his insight. He that speaks ill will always hear worse.