37．準備一些譏诮話，并善加利用

    準備一些譏诮話，并善加利用。人際交往中，此點最奧妙。有的譏诮話常常用來探測别人的情緒，它往往是刺探人心的最敏銳的試金石。有的話惡毒、粗野，因深染妒忌之氣或激情之毒，它猛一出現可立馬摧毀所有的好感和尊重。就是被這種話稍稍刺激，許多人和尊長或下屬再不親密——他們原本親密無間，衆人的暗諷和一些人的惡意都不能動搖他們的關系。有的譏诮話可以起到好的作用，鞏固和提高人的名望。不管怎樣，他人越有奸計，我們越要加倍小心，敏銳且有預見性地把它化解掉。知曉他人的惡意，本身就是一種防備——能夠被預見的一擊常常打不中目标。

    

37．Keepastoreofsarcasms,andknowhowtousethem

    Keepastoreofsarcasms,andknowhowtousethem.Thisisthepointofgreatesttactinhumanintercourse.Suchsarcasmsareoftenthrownouttotestmen'smoods,andbytheirmeansoneoftenobtainsthemostsubtleandpenetratingtouchstoneoftheheart.Othersarcasmsaremalicious,insolent,poisonedbyenvyorenvenomedbypassion,unexpectedflasheswhichdestroyatonceallfavourandesteem.Struckbytheslightestwordofthiskind,manyfallawayfromtheclosestintimacywithsuperiorsorinferiorswhichcouldnotbetheslightestshakenbyawholeconspiracyofpopularinsinuationorprivatemalevolence.Othersarcasms,ontheotherhand,workfavourably,confirmingandassistingone'sreputation.Butthegreatertheskillwithwhichtheyarelaunched,thegreaterthecautionwithwhichtheyshouldbereceivedandtheforesightwithwhichtheyshouldheforeseen.Forhereaknowledgeoftheevilisinitselfameansofdefence,andashotforeseenalwaysmissesitsmark.