Baltasar Gracián Quotes

The more pains you take with a thing, the more should you conceal them, so that it may appear to arise spontaneously from your own natural character.

Think with the Few and speak with the Many.

At twenty the will rules; at thirty the intellect; at forty the judgment.

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

In heaven, everything is good; in hell, everything bad. In the world, since it lies between the two, you find both. We are placed between two extremes, and so participate in both. Good and bad luck alternate; not all is happy, nor all hostile. This world is a zero: on its own, it's worth nothing; joined to heaven, a great deal. Indifference to its variety constitutes good sense - the wise are never surprised. Our life is arranged like a play, everything will be sorted out in the end. Take care, then, to end it well.

Sublime in action, lofty in thought, in all things like a king, at least in merit if not in might. For true kingship lies in spotless rectitude, and he need not envy greatness who can serve as a model of it.

Know your strongest Point — your pre-eminent gift; cultivate that and you will assist the rest. Every one would have excelled in something if he had known his strong point. Notice in what quality you surpass, and take charge of that. In some judgment excels, in others valour. Most do violence to their natural aptitude, and thus attain superiority in nothing.

Many people spend time studying the properties of animals or herbs; how much more important it would be to study those of people, with whom we must live or die!

A man should not employ all his capacity and power at once and on every occasion. Even in knowledge there should be a rearguard, so that your resources are doubled. One must always have something to resort to when there is fear of a defeat. The reserve is of more importance than the attacking force: for it is distinguished for valour and reputation.

The greatest skill at cards is to know when to discard;

Believe your heart, especially when it's already tried and tested. Never contradict it, for it can usually foresee what matters most. It is your private oracle.

Let the first impulse pass. Wait for the second.

clxxxiii Do not hold your Views too firmly. Every fool is fully convinced, and every one fully persuaded is a fool: the more erroneous his judgment the more firmly he holds it.

a man is judged by his friends, for there was never agreement between wise men and fools.

in conversation discretion is more important than eloquence. cxlix