29．剛直的人

    剛直的人堅持正義，不屈不撓，無論是暴民之沖動，抑或是暴君之淫威，都不會令其有失公允。但是，誰能成為這樣一個不死鳥式的公正人物呢？追随正義的人屈指可數。确實有許多人贊美這種品德，但隻希望别人去實踐。有的勇于實踐，卻往往知難而退；危難當頭，僞君子棄之若敝，政客将之改頭換面。堅守正義，就不在乎其是否與友誼、權勢甚至私利相沖突，所以便有被人抛棄之危險。狡猾之人巧言惑衆，大談所謂為了服從上級，或是為了國家利益。但率直忠貞之人卻視其為背信棄義。他們更注重堅貞不屈，而非所謂的精明。這樣的人總與真理為伴。若他們抛棄了某一群體，則是因他人背棄了真理，而非他們變化無常。

    

29．Amanofrectitude

    Amanofrectitudeclingstothesectofrightwithsuchtenacityofpurposethatneitherthepassionsofthemobnortheviolenceofthetyrantcanevercausehimtotransgresstheboundsofright.ButwhoshallbesuchaPhoenixofequity?Whatascantyfollowinghasrectitude!Manypraiseitindeed,but－forothers.Othersfollowittilldangerthreatensthenthefalsedenyit,thepoliticconcealit.Foritcaresnotifitfightswithfriendship,power,orevenself-interest:thencomesthedangerofdesertion.Thenastutemenmakeplausibledistinctionssoasnottostandinthewayoftheirsuperiorsorofreasonsofstate.Butthestraightforwardandconstantregarddissimulationasakindoftreason,andsetmorestoreontenacitythanonsagacity.Sucharealwaystobefoundonthesideoftruth,andiftheydesertaparty,theydonotchangefromfickleness,butbecausetheothershavefirstdesertedtruth.