289．要贬低一个人，莫过于表明他和任何人都没有区别

要贬低一个人，莫过于表明他和任何人都没有区别。就在他被看做凡人的那一天，他不再被视为圣人。轻浮与名誉南辕北辙。深沉之人高于常人，轻浮之人不及常人。没有什么缺陷比轻浮更能让你丧失尊重，因为它和可靠的严肃完全相反。轻浮之人即便是到了老年，也没有什么分量，尽管岁月的磨炼本应让他谨慎。轻浮这一缺点普通寻常，却依然招来人们的轻视。

289．Nothing depreciates a man more than to show he is a man like other men

Nothing depreciates a man more than to show he is a man like other men. The day he is seen to be very human he ceases to be thought divine. Frivolity is the exact opposite of reputation. And as the reserved are held to be more than men, so the frivolous are held to be less. No failing causes such failure of respect. For frivolity is the exact opposite of solid seriousness. A man of levity cannot be a man of weight even when he is old, and age should oblige him to be prudent. Although this blemish is so common it is none the less despised.