215.提防那些掩饰自己意图的人
提防那些掩饰自己意图的人。精明人的一个策略就是能在打击对手之前,先让他丧失警惕,然后反败为胜——他们掩饰自己所想之物,然后得到它。他们暂居第二,是为了在最后关头冲到最前面。这一招如果不被注意,就很少失败。当别人的意图很明显时,我们的注意力就不能沉睡。如果别人让他自己暂居第二,以隐藏其真正意图,你就要第一个发现它。小心谨慎就能够识破这种人的陷阱,并明白他们用以达到目的的借口。这些人总是指东打西,然后精明地回过头,直达目的。你最好明白自己所能容忍的限度,有时有必要让别人知道,你已看穿了他们的意图。
215.Watchhimthatactsonsecondthoughts
Watchhimthatactsonsecondthoughts。Itisadeviceofbusinessmentoputtheopponentoffhisguardbeforeattackinghim,andthustoconquerbybeingdefeated:theydissembletheirdesiresoastoattainit。Theyputthemselvessecondsoastocomeoutfirstinthefinalspurt。Thismethodrarelyfailsifitisnotnoticed。Letthereforetheattentionneversleepwhentheintentionissowideawake。Andiftheotherputshimselfsecondsotohidehisplan,putyourselffirsttodiscoverit。Prudencecandiscerntheartificeswhichsuchamanuses,andnoticesthepretextsheputsforwardtogainhisends。Heaimsatonethingtogetanother;thenheturnsroundsmartlyandfiresstraightathistarget。Itiswelltoknowwhatyougranthim,andattimesitisdesirabletogivehimtounderstandthatyouunderstand。