4. To make people praise you right in your face is no better than not to make them vilify you behind your back.

使人有麵前之譽，不若使人無背後之毀；使人有乍交之歡，不若使人無久處之厭。

【今文解譯】

與其讓人當著你的麵誇讚你，不如不讓人在你的背後指指點點。

與其讓人一見麵就對你產生好感，不如不讓人因處久而嫌厭你。

【English Translation】

To make people praise you right in your face is no better than not to make them vilify you behind your back.

To make people show a liking to you at first meeting is no better than not to make them think scorn of you in the course of time.

天薄我福 吾厚吾德