285．勿被他人厄運拖累
看看那些深陷泥潭的人，他們總是拉別人下水，以給自己找個夥伴共同承擔不幸。他們四處尋求幫助，而恰恰是在他們風光時不理睬他們的人此時伸出了援助之手。營救溺水之人時須特別小心，不要讓自己處於危險境地。
cclxxxv Never Die of Another’s Ill-luck.
Notice those who stick in the mud, and observe how they call others to their aid so as to console themselves with a companion in misfortune. They seek some one to help them to bear misfortune, and often those who turned the cold shoulder on them in prosperity give them now a helping hand. There is great caution needed in helping the drowning without danger to oneself.
286．不要欠太多人情
否則你會淪為他人的奴隸。有些人天生就比他人更幸運，故他們生來就廣為行善，讓別人受惠於他。當你受到誘惑時，可能會拋棄一些自由來換取某樣事物，但事實是自由更加珍貴。我們應該更加注重讓自己獨立，而不是花太多精力吸引別人來尋求自己的幫助。握有權力的唯一好處就在於你可以利用它做更多更大的善事。總而言之，不要把別人履行責任當作是幫忙，因為幫忙隻是他計劃的一部分，真正的目的是讓別人依靠他。
cclxxxvi Do Not Become Responsible for All or for Every One,
otherwise you become a slave and the slave of all. Some are born more fortunate than others: they are born to do good as others to receive it. Freedom is more precious than any gifts for which you may be tempted to give it up. Lay less stress on making many dependent on you than on keeping yourself independent of any. The sole advantage of power is that you can do more good. Above all do not regard responsibility as a favour, for generally it is another’s plan to make one dependent on him.
287．情緒激動時不要行動
如果不這樣做，你就會失去一切。那些缺乏自製的人不能代表自己。激情總會使人喪失理智，這時候應去找一個明慎的第三者，一個未為激情所製的人給自己一些建議。有道是當局者迷，旁觀者清。你一旦察覺到自己情緒衝動，就要控製脾氣並使火氣消退。否則一旦熱血沸騰，則會迸發，短暫的爆發與失控會讓我們後悔不迭，甚至讓別人心存怨恨。
cclxxxvii Never Act in a Passion.
If you do, all is lost. You cannot act for yourself if you are not yourself, and passion always drives out reason. In such cases inter-pose a prudent go-between who can only be prudent if he keeps cool. That is why lookers-on see most of the game, because they keep cool. As soon as you notice that you are losing your temper beat a wise retreat. For no sooner is the blood up than it is spilt, and in a few moments occasion may be given for many days’ repentance for oneself and complaints of the other party.
288．順應時勢，順勢求成
我們的所作所想等都應當順應時勢而為。當時機對時就立即行動，要知道時不我待。處世接物不要被某些人為的規定所束縛，除非關乎道德。也不要讓你的意願被一些固定條件束縛，因為你不屑一顧之物明天或許會令你難以割舍。有人心懷不切實際的幻想，竟然期望時勢能遷就自己，而不是改變自己去順應時勢。明智的人知道謹慎的要旨在於調整自己去順應時勢，順勢求成。
cclxxxviii Live for the Moment.
Our acts and thoughts and all must be determined by circumstances. Will when you may, for time and tide wait for no man. Do not live by certain fixed rules, except those that relate to the cardinal virtues. Nor let your will subscribe fixed conditions, for you may have to drink the water to-morrow which you cast away to-day. There be some so absurdly paradoxical that they expect all the circumstances of an action should bend to their eccentric whims and not vice versa. The wise man knows that the very polestar of prudence lies in steering by the wind.
289．貶低一個人最有效的辦法莫過於讓他知道他和別人沒什麼兩樣
當一個人被認為與他人無異時，他也走下了名譽的神壇。輕浮是傳聲揚名最大的障礙。羞怯的人依然還會被當作人看待，而輕浮的人則得不到常人所應有的尊敬。輕浮最能讓人喪失尊重，因為它與受人敬重的品格完全相反。輕浮之人即使到了老年，仍無內涵可言，盡管歲月的磨練本應當讓其謹慎。輕浮這一缺點非常普遍，往往招來他人的極端蔑視。
cclxxxix Nothing Depreciates a Man More Than to Show He Is a Man like Other Men.
The day he is seen to be very human he ceases to be thought divine. Frivolity is the exact opposite of reputation. And as the reserved are held to be more than men, so the frivolous are held to be less. No failing causes such failure of respect. For frivolity is the exact opposite of solid seriousness. A man of levity cannot be a man of weight even when he is old, and age should oblige him to be prudent. Although this blemish is so common it is none the less despised.
290．同時獲得人們的喜愛和尊敬，實屬幸事
通常欲受人尊敬，則不可被人喜愛得太殷切。愛比恨更感性。喜愛與敬重難以和諧相容。因此，你的目標是不可太令人懼，亦不可太令人愛。愛戀之情使彼此過分熟稔，而越是相信和了解一個人就越不容易尊敬他。寧受人敬愛，而不是被人喜愛，因為喜愛會大眾化。
ccxc ‘Tis a Piece of Good Fortune to Combine Men’s Love and Respect.
Generally one dare not be liked if one would be respected. Love is more sensitive than hate. Love and honour do not go well together. So that one should aim neither to be much feared nor much loved. Love introduces confidence, and the further this advances, the more respect recedes. Prefer to be loved with respect rather than with passion, for that is a love suitable for many.