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．Watch him that acts on second thoughts

Watch him that acts on second thoughts. It is a device of business men to put the opponent off his guard before attacking him, and thus to conquer by being defeated: they dissemble their desire so as to attain it. They put themselves second so as to come out first in the final spurt. This method rarely fails if it is not noticed. Let therefore the attention never sleep when the intention is so wide awake. And if the other puts himself second so to hide his plan, put yourself first to discover it. Prudence can discern the artifices which such a man uses, and notices the pretexts he puts forward to gain his ends. He aims at one thing to get another; then he turns round smartly and fires straight at his target. It is well to know what you grant him, and at times it is desirable to give him to understand that you understand.