259．预见伤害，并将之转化为庇护

预见伤害，并将之转化为庇护。避免被人伤害要比报复他人明智得多。要想把对手变成密友，把预备攻击我们的人变成维护我们荣誉的人，的确十分精明。让别人对你怀有感激，会有许多助益，因为对你感激的人没有时间伤害你。化干戈为玉帛，是真正的处世之道。试着把敌意化为亲密吧。

259．Anticipate injuries and turn them into favours

Anticipate injuries and turn them into favours. It is wiser to avoid than to revenge them. It is an uncommon piece of shrewdness to change a rival into a confidant, or transform into guards of honour those who were aiming attacks at us. It helps much to know how to oblige, for he leaves no time for injuries that fills it up with gratitude. That is true savoir faire to turn anxieties into pleasures. Try and make a confidential relation out of ill-will itself.