173.与人相交,不要像玻璃般易碎,朋友间尤其如此

与人相交,不要像玻璃般易碎,朋友间尤其如此。有些人很容易崩溃,表明他们太脆弱。他们把这归罪于想像中受到的侵犯,以及难以忍受的他人的恶意。他们的情感比眼睛还要敏感,无论是玩笑还是真心话都不能触碰。尘埃都能使他们生气,更别说大的刺激了。与这种人交往须很小心,要注意他们的神经过敏,要察言观色,因为稍微没有顾及到他们,他们就会不高兴。他们大多很自我,是自己情绪的奴隶,为此可把所有事情搁置一旁:他们是细节的崇拜者。与其相反,真正友爱的人,其秉性如钻石,既坚固又耐久。

173.Do not be glass in intercourse, still less in friendship

Do not be glass in intercourse, still less in friendship. Some break very easily, and thereby show their want of consistency. They attribute to themselves imaginary offences and to others oppressive intentions. Their feelings are even more sensitive than the eye itself, and must not be touched in jest or in earnest. Motes offend them: they need not wait for beams. Those who consort with them must treat them with the greatest delicacy, have regard to their sensitiveness, and watch their demeanour, since the slightest slight arouses their annoyance. They are mostly very egoistic, slaves of their moods, for the sake of which they cast everything aside: they are the worshippers of punctilio. On the other hand, the disposition of the true lover is firm and enduring like diamond.