雙語智慧書·不要總開玩笑

76．不要總開玩笑
　　不要總開玩笑。智慧體現(xiàn)在嚴(yán)肅的事情中，且比耍小聰明更易獲得人們的贊賞?？偸菧?zhǔn)備調(diào)侃的人絕不會(huì)準(zhǔn)備做嚴(yán)肅的事。愛開玩笑之人如同愛說謊之人一樣--人們從不信任他們，總認(rèn)為前者是在開玩笑，后者是在說謊。人們永遠(yuǎn)不知道那些愛開玩笑的人什么時(shí)候能運(yùn)用其判斷力說正經(jīng)的話，這相當(dāng)于是在說他沒有判斷力。無休止的玩笑很快便失去其應(yīng)有的趣味。很多人以其詼諧風(fēng)趣而聞名，卻因此失去明判善斷的贊譽(yù)。偶爾開開玩笑是可以的，但是大部分時(shí)間應(yīng)該嚴(yán)肅起來。


76．Do not always be jesting
　Do not always be jesting. Wisdom is shown in serious matters, and is more appreciated than mere wit. He that is always ready for jests is never ready for serious things. Jokers resemble liars in that men never believe either, always expecting a lie in one, a joke in the other. One never knows when you speak with judgment, which is the same as if you had none. A continual jest soon loses all zest. Many get the repute of being witty, but thereby lose the credit of being sensible. Jest has its little hour, seriousness should have all the rest.