智慧書（中英雙語） · 55．善於等待

55．善於等待 善於等待。善於等待的人從不慌張，從不受控於自身情緒，有著一顆有耐心的高貴之心。人若想去管別人，首先要管好自己。在到達機會的核心之前，你得經過其外圍。明智的猶疑使目標更有趣味，使手段更加成熟。時間老人的拐杖比赫克樂斯(1)的鐵杖還好使。上帝懲戒人，用時間而非鞭子。正如一句偉大的箴言(2)所說：「給我時間，我能夠以一敵二。」命運總是把頭等獎頒給善於等待之人。 55．Wait Wait. It's a sign of a noble heart dowered with patience, never to be in a hurry, never to be in a passion. First be master over yourself if you would be master over others. You must pass through the circumference of time before arriving at the centre of opportunity. A wise reserve seasons the aims and matures the means. Time's crutch effects more than the iron club of Hercules. God Himself chastenes not with a rod but with time. He spoke a great word who said, "Time and I against any two." Fortune rewards waiting with the first prize. (1) 希臘神話中的大力士，宙斯之子。 (2) 指西班牙國王查理一世（1516—1556），兼神聖羅馬皇帝查理五世（1519—1556）所說的話。