159.忍受愚蠢
忍受愚蠢。智者常常没有耐性,因为学问增加了,他们对愚蠢的耐心也减少了。学识渊博之人很难被取悦。生活中第一重要准则便是“忍耐”二字,爱比克泰德(1)如是说,他视其为所有智慧真谛的一半。容忍种种愚蠢,需要极大的耐性。有时候,我们不得不忍受的人恰恰是我们最依赖的人,这是锻炼我们自制力之有用的一课。忍耐产生安宁,这是世间幸福之无价的恩惠。如果没有耐性,就要独处——即便是独处,也不得不忍耐自己。
159.Putupwithfools
Putupwithfools。Thewisearealwaysimpatient,forhethatincreasesknowledgeincreaseimpatienceoffolly。Muchknowledgeisdifficulttosatisfy。Thefirstgreatruleoflife,accordingtoEpictetus,istoputupwiththings:hevaluedthisashalfofallwisdom。Toputupwithallthevarietiesoffollywouldneedmuchpatience。Weoftenhavetoputupwithmostfromthoseonwhomwemostdepend:ausefullessoninself-control。Outofpatiencecomesforthpeace,thepricelessboonwhichisthehappinessoftheworld。Butlethimthathasnopowerofpatienceretirewithinhimself,thougheventherehewillhavetoputupwithhimself。
(1) 古罗马哲学家,晚期斯多葛派主要代表之一。