163．决不因同情而卷入他人的不幸

决不因同情而卷入他人的不幸。一人的不幸也许是另一人的幸运。因为如果没有很多人的不幸，他又怎能走运？不幸之人的一个特点就是经常激起人们的善心。人们试图用于事无补的恩惠来补偿他所受到的打击。结果那些发达时人人妒忌之人，身处逆境之时，突然成了无人不怜的对象。人们对他高飞之时的仇恨，转化为对他落难之时的同情。但是，我们不应忘记命运是如何洗牌的。有的人总是与不幸之人结交，总让昔日飞黄腾达之人可怜兮兮地站在他身边。这也许显示其灵魂的高尚，但并不能表明其处世之智慧。

163．Never, from sympathy with the unfortunate, involve yourself in his fate

Never, from sympathy with the unfortunate, involve yourself in his fate. One man's misfortune is another man's luck, for one cannot be lucky without many being unlucky. It is a peculiarity of the unfortunate to arouse people's goodwill, who desire to compensate them for the blows of fortune with their useless favour, and it happens that one who was abhorred by all in prosperity is adored by all in adversity. Vengeance on the wing is exchanged for compassion afoot. Yet it is to be noticed how fate shuffles the cards. There are men who always consort with the unlucky, and he that yesterday flew high and happy stands today miserable at their side. That argues nobility of soul, but not worldly wisdom.