培养高雅的品味。和聪明才智一样,高雅的品味是能够培养的。
透彻的领悟能力可刺激你的胃口,增加你的快乐。
判断一个人的精神是否高贵,可看其品味是否高雅——只有伟大的事物才能满足伟大的心灵。嘴巴越大,能吞下的东西才越多;那些高尚的事业只有崇高之人能为之。在鉴赏大家面前,即便是最勇敢的人也会胆战心惊,最完美的人也会丧失信心。一流的事物是罕见的,因此,不要轻易欣赏。品味可通过人际交往而传授。能与品味最高雅的人结交,将是一大幸运。但是,千万不要宣称自己对什么都不满意,这是极其愚蠢的。若出于装腔作势,那就比出自不切实际的幻想更让人讨厌。有人会期望上帝另造一个世界,另造其他理想的事物,以满足他们不可思议的幻想。
葛拉西安. 智慧书:中英双语典藏本 (Kindle 位置 1192-1199). 中央编译出版社. Kindle 版本.
65.Elevated taste
Elevated taste. You can train it like the intellect. Full knowledge whets desire and increases enjoyment. You may know a noble spirit by the elevation of his taste: it must be a great thing that can satisfy a great mind. Big bites for big mouths, lofty things for lofty spirits. Before their judgment the bravest tremble, the most perfect lose confidence. Things of the first importance are few; let appreciation be rare. Taste can be imparted by intercourse: great good luck to associate with the highest taste. But do not profess to be dissatisfied with everything: it is the extreme of folly, and more odious if from affectation than if from Quixotry. Some would have God create another world and other ideals to satisfy their fantastic imagination.
葛拉西安. 智慧书:中英双语典藏本 (Kindle 位置 1200-1205). 中央编译出版社. Kindle 版本.