美国语文第六册 第64期:机智和才能(3)
另外，我们考察一下在法院里的情形。才能可以让别人感受到一个人的影响力，而机智则可以让其尽情发挥影响力。
talent commands, tact is obeyed; talent is honored with approbation, and tact is blessed by preferment.
才能居于指挥地位，而机智则会令别人服从;才能荣享赞扬，而机智则优先得到上天的恩赐;
Place them in the senate: talent has the ear of the house, but tact wins its heart, and has its votes;
那么在参议院情形怎样呢?才能使议会能听到它希望了解的东西，而机智却能赢得它的芳心，获得大家的投票;
talent is fit for employment, but tact is fitted for it.
才智适合就业，而机智则使就业的人游刃有余。
It has a knack of slipping into place with a sweet silence and glibness of movement, as a billiard ball insinuates itself into the pocket.
机智具有一种悄无声息地占据有利位置，口齿伶俐地表达自己的想法的技巧，就像弹子球巧妙迂回落入袋中一样。
It seems to know everything, without learning anything.
机智不需要掌握什么就能洞察一切。
It has served an extemporary apprenticeship; it wants no drilling; it never ranks in the awkward squad; it has no left hand, no deaf ear, no blind side.
它需要一个练习不用事先准备，张嘴就说的见习期。它不需要刻苦钻研，在那些愚笨的人从来就不具备这种本领;它是信手拈来的，对周围的一切洞若观火。
It puts on no look of wondrous wisdom, it has no air of profundity,
它没有令人惊叹的智慧那不屑一顾的傲慢，也没有深奥的外表，
but plays with the details of place as dexterously as a well-taught hand flourishes over the keys of the pianoforte.
但是却敏捷地注意到所处环境的细微末梢之处，就像一只训练有素的手在钢琴键盘上跳舞一样。
It has all the air of commonplace, and all the force and power of genius.
机智披着寻常的外衣，却胜过天才所有的力量和影响力。
