雙語智慧書·如果日后必求人且需答謝，還不如先施惠于人

236．如果日后必求人且需答謝，還不如先施惠于人
　　如果日后必求人且需答謝，還不如先施惠于人。這是一個精明的策略。雖然別人還無資格接受，但是你卻提前施惠，這說明你樂于助人。這樣，預(yù)先施惠便有了兩大優(yōu)勢：你的施惠干脆利落，讓受惠者更加感激。同一件禮物，本只是日后對他的酬謝，卻變成了事先的施惠。這是變換人情的精明策略：日后你有求于人，卻變成了別人因?yàn)楝F(xiàn)在受惠而在日后回報你。但是，這種策略只對知恩圖報之人有效。對卑鄙小人來說，提前的謝禮只是羈絆，而不是鞭策。


236．Make an obligation beforehand of what would have to be a reward afterwards
　Make an obligation beforehand of what would have to be a reward afterwards. This is a stroke of subtle policy; to grant favours before they are deserved is a proof of being obliging. Favours thus granted beforehand have two great advantages: the promptness of the gift obliges the recipient the more strongly; and the same gift which would afterwards be merely a reward is beforehand an obligation. This is a subtle means of transforming obligations, since that which would have forced the superior to reward is changed into one that obliges them to satisfy the obligation. But this is only suitable for men who have the feeling of obligation, since with men of lower stamp the honorarium paid beforehand acts rather as a bit than as a spur.