外交官和大家閨秀 - 古德明
At a ball in St Petersburg,* Bismarck, who was largely responsible for creating a unified Germany in 1871, entertained his attractive partner with the usual pleasant flatteries. But she would have none of it, exclaiming, "One can't believe a word you diplomats say."
"What do you mean?" asked Bismarck.
"Well, when a diplomat says 'yes', he means 'perhaps'. When he says 'perhaps', he means 'no'. And if he should say 'no' -- well, he is no diplomat."
"Madam, you are quite right, it's part of our profession, I fear. But with you ladies the exact opposite is the case," Bismarck replied.
"How so?"
"When she says 'no', she means 'perhaps'. When she says 'perhaps', she means 'yes'. And if she says 'yes' -- well, she is no lady."
德意志一八七一年合併為一國，俾斯麥功勞至偉。有一次，俾斯麥在聖彼得堡*出席舞會，對動人的舞伴，循例多方贊美。但那女郎不為所動，說道：「你們外交官的話，全不足信。」
俾斯麥問：「你怎麼這樣說？」
「哈，外交官說『好吧』，意思其實是『也許』；說『也許』，意思其實是『不行』。假如照實說『不行』，他就不是外交官了。」
俾斯麥回答：「小姐，你說得不錯，那是我們職業所需，跟你們大家閨秀剛剛相反。」
「你怎麼這樣說？」
「哈，大家閨秀說『不行』，意思其實是『也許』；說『也許』，意思其實是『好吧』。假如照實說『好吧』，她就不是大家閨秀了。」
*俾斯麥一八五九年至一八六二年任普魯士駐俄大使。
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