280.做個值得信賴的人
做個值得信賴的人。光榮的行為已經絕跡,信任被人拋棄,沒有幾個人信守承諾,付出越多回報越少,這就是當今的世道。還有一些國家,全民均傾向于弄虛作假:要么是背信棄義讓人害怕,要么總是言而無信,要么詭計多端。這種不良行為應成為警示,而不是榜樣。我們所擔心的是,耳濡目染此類卑劣行為可能會毀掉我們的正直。但是,值得尊敬之人從不會因為看到別人如何而忘記自己應該如何。
280.Be trustworthy
Be trustworthy. Honourable dealing is at an end, trusts are denied, few keep their word: the greater the service, the poorer the reward: that is the way with all the world nowadays. There are whole nations inclined to false dealing: with some treachery has always to be feared, with others breach of promise, with others deceit. Yet this bad behaviour of others should rather be a warning to us than an example. The fear is that the sight of such unworthy behaviour should override our integrity. But a man of honour should never forget what he is because he sees what others are.