换句话说，最好在你开口评论他人之前悬崖勒马，你很有可能不知道他人的真正价值，这是不可测的。于是，我们不该为人下定论，还有另一种慰藉，当我们想象人生中的失败，我们恐惧的原因并不只是失去收入，失去地位，我们害怕的是他人的评论和嘲笑，它的确存在。
In other words, hold your horses when you're coming to judge people. You don't necessarily know what someone's truevalue is. That is an unknown part of them, and we shouldn't behave as though it is known. There is another source of solace and comfort for all this. When we think about failing in life, when we think about failure, one of the reasons why we fear failing is not just a loss of income, a loss of status. What we fear is the judgment and ridicule of others. And it exists.
现在，无论是左倾还是右倾的政治人物，都同意“功绩主义”是个好事。我们应该尽力让我们的社会崇尚“功绩主义”，换句话说，一个崇尚“功绩主义”的社会是什么样的呢？一个崇尚功绩主义的社会相信，如果你有才能、精力和技术，你就会飞黄腾达，没有什么能阻止你，这是个美好的想法。
真相往往比小说更离奇，但小说帮助我们理解真相。