Baltasar Gracián Quotes

moral cowardice lowers one more than physical. Many have had eminent qualities, yet, for want of a stout heart, they passed inanimate lives and found a tomb in their own sloth. Wise Nature has thoughtfully combined in the bee the sweetness of its honey with the sharpness of its sting. lv

Never compete with someone who has nothing to lose.

Como los ignorantes no se conocen, tampoco buscan lo que les falta. Serían sabios algunos si no creyessen que lo son.

Even monarchs have need of authors, and fear their pens more than ugly women the painter's pencil.

When your opponent sees into your reasoning like a lynx, conceal your thoughts like an inky squid.

Engage with reason so misfortune doesn't contend with you.

Audacious persons hope to make themselves eternally famous by setting fire to one of the wonders of the world and of the ages. The art of reproving scandal is to take no notice of it, to combat it damages our own case; even if credited it causes discredit, and is a source of satisfaction to our opponent, for this shadow of a stain dulls the lustre of our fame even if it cannot altogether deaden it.

Be a combination of a dove and the serpent; not a monster, but a prodigy.

A person has everything who cares nothing about what matters little.

Think with the Few and speak with the Many.

Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with every new assignment.

When you counsel someone, you should appear to be reminding him of something he had forgotten, not of the light he was unable to see.

41 Never exaggerate. It isn’t wise to use superlatives. They offend the truth and cast doubt on your judgment. By exaggerating, you squander your praise and reveal a lack of knowledge and taste. Praise awakens curiosity, which begets desire, and later, when the goods seem overpriced, as often happens, expectation feels cheated and avenges itself by running down the praised and the praiser. The prudent show restraint, and would rather fall short than long. True eminences are rare, so temper your esteem. To overvalue something is a form of lying. It can ruin your reputation for good taste, and — even worse — for wisdom.

Life is a warfare against the malice of others.

Know your unlucky days, for the exist. Nothing will work out right and, even though you change your game, your bad luck will remain.