265．为部下安排最难的任务

为部下安排最难的任务。许多人一遇到困难，就要立刻证明自己的能力，就像害怕淹死从而学会游泳一样。许多人就是因此而发现了自己的勇气、学识或机智——如果没有这种机会，这些都会因为胆怯而永远被埋没。困境是人为自己争得名誉的场合。当高尚的人看到自己的名声受到损害时，他会千方百计地加以维护。天主教徒伊莎贝拉女王(1)十分明白这一人生法则（正如懂得其他法则一样），正是由于她的恩宠十分精明，大船长哥伦布才得以出名，其他许多人也才能流芳百世。她就是用这个伟大技巧造就了伟大的人物。

265．Set those under you difficult task

Set those under you difficult task. Many have proved themselves able at once when they had to deal with a difficulty, just as fear of drowning makes a swimmer of a man. In this way many have discovered their own courage, knowledge, or tact, which but for the opportunity would have been forever buried beneath their want of enterprise. Dangers are the occasions to create a name for oneself; and if a noble mind sees honour at stake, he will do the work of thousands. Queen Isabella the Catholic knew well this rule of life, as well as all the others, and to a shrewd favour of this kind from her the Great Captain won his fame, and many others earned an undying name. By this great art she made great men.