295．若未奏效，不要邀功

若未奏效，不要邀功。很多没有资格邀功的人总是宣扬自己的功绩。他们若无其事地把一切都描述得神秘莫测。他们像个变色龙，一心想赢得他人的掌声，却令人捧腹大笑。虚荣总是让人反感，在此还应受人鄙视。为了名利，有人如蚂蚁一般四处攀爬，窃取别人业绩的渣滓。你的功绩越大，越不需伪装：踏实地做自己该做的事，不要理会他人的说法。功劳尽可能拱手相让，但不要待价而沽。不要雇佣贿赂来的笔在污泥上写下对你的赞美，让知情者嘲笑。宁可立志去做一名英雄，也不要只是表面如此。

295．Do not affect what you have not effected

Do not affect what you have not effected. Many claim exploits without the slightest claim. With the greatest coolness they make a mystery of all. Chameleons of applause they afford others a surfeit of laughter. Vanity is always objectionable, here it is despicable. These ants of honour go crawling about filching scraps of exploits. The greater your exploits the less you need affect them: content yourself with doing, leave the talking to others. Give away your deeds but do not sell them. And do not hire venal pens to write down praises in the mud, to the derision of the knowing ones. Aspire rather to be a hero than merely to appear one.