雙語智慧書·順應時勢

288．順應時勢
　　順應時勢。我們行為、思想及一切都應視境況而定。若時機適宜，就應該下定決心，因為時勢不等人。不要按照僵化的教條來生活，除非涉及基本的道德。也不要讓你的意愿滿足于不變的情形，因為到了明天，你可能不得不飲用今天潑出去的水。居然有人如此荒謬可笑，他們期望某一行動的一切條件都服從他們那古怪的念頭，而非相反。智者明白：見風使舵、順勢求成才是謹慎的根本所在。



288．Live for the moment
　Live for the moment. Our acts and thoughts and all must be determined by circumstances, Will when you may, for time and tide wait for no man. Do not live by certain fixed rules, except those that relate to the cardinal virtues. Nor let your will subscribe fixed conditions, for you may have to drink the water tomorrow which you cast away today. There be some so absurdly paradoxical that they expect all the circumstances of an action should bend to their eccentric whims and not vice versa. The wise man knows that the very polestar of prudence lies in steering by the wind.