236．如果日后必求人且需答谢，还不如先施惠于人

如果日后必求人且需答谢，还不如先施惠于人。这是一个精明的策略。虽然别人还无资格接受，但是你却提前施惠，这说明你乐于助人。这样，预先施惠便有了两大优势：你的施惠干脆利落，让受惠者更加感激。同一件礼物，本只是日后对他的酬谢，却变成了事先的施惠。这是变换人情的精明策略：日后你有求于人，却变成了别人因为现在受惠而在日后回报你。但是，这种策略只对知恩图报之人有效。对卑鄙小人来说，提前的谢礼只是羁绊，而不是鞭策。

236．Make an obligation beforehand of what would have to be a reward afterwards

Make an obligation beforehand of what would have to be a reward afterwards. This is a stroke of subtle policy; to grant favours before they are deserved is a proof of being obliging. Favours thus granted beforehand have two great advantages: the promptness of the gift obliges the recipient the more strongly; and the same gift which would afterwards be merely a reward is beforehand an obligation. This is a subtle means of transforming obligations, since that which would have forced the superior to reward is changed into one that obliges them to satisfy the obligation. But this is only suitable for men who have the feeling of obligation, since with men of lower stamp the honorarium paid beforehand acts rather as a bit than as a spur.