210．懂得怎样对待真相

懂得怎样对待真相。说出真相是危险的，但好人不能不说，这就需要高超的技巧。最高明的精神医生设法让真相的药丸变甜，因为当真相毁灭幻想时，会痛苦万分。这时，令人愉悦的方式可大展身手：同样的真相，既可让人开心，也可使人崩溃。处理今天的事情，要像处理很久之前的事情一样。对于明白人，一句话就够了；如果还不够，可以保持沉默。不要让那些贵族吞食苦涩的药丸，让他们清醒的药丸一定要包上糖衣。

210．Know how to play the card of truth

Know how to play the card of truth. It is dangerous, yet a good man cannot avoid speaking it. But great skill is needed here. The most expert doctors of the soul pay great attention to the means of sweetening the pill of truth. For when it deals with the destroying of illusion it is the quintessence of bitterness. A pleasant manner has here an opportunity for a display of skill: with the same truth it can flatter one and fell another to the ground. Matters of today should be treated as if they were long past. For those who can understand a word is sufficient, and if it does not suffice, it is a case for silence. Princes must not be cured with bitter draughts; it is therefore desirable in their case to gild the pill of disillusion.