Baltasar Gracián Quotes

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.

Some people belong entirely to others ... They have not a day, not an hour to call their own, so completely do they give themselves to others. This is true even in matters of understanding. Some people know everything for others and nothing for themselves.

Words should be the pledges of work, and, like pawn-tickets, have their market price.

Know how to ask. There is nothing more difficult for some people, nor for others, easier.

Do not be held a cheat, even though it is impossible to live today without being one. Let your greatest cunning lie in covering up what looks like cunning.

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!

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.

Triviality is annoying, and in a person's character, tedious. To keep coming back to a disagreement is a kind of mania.

Respect yourself is you would have others respect you.

Quanto que el no creer es indicio del mentir; porque el mentiroso tiene dos males, que ni cree ni es creído.

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

Unos principios de crédito sirven de despertar la curiosidad, no de empeñar el objecto. Mejor sale quando la realidad excede al concepto y es más de lo que se creyó. Faltará esta regla en lo malo, pues le ayuda la mesma exageración; desmiéntela con aplauso, y aun llega a parecer tolerable lo que se temió extremo de ruin.

Prefiere estar loco igual que todos, y no cuerdo y solitario.
Así dicen los políticos, con toda razón. Que si todos son locos, tú no saldrás perdiendo por estarlo. Si eres el único cuerdo, te acusarán de loco. Por iso es importante seguir la corrente de la gente. Muchas veces, la mayor sabiduría consiste en no saber, o aparentar no saber. Has de vivir con la gente, y la mayoría son ignorantes.

Not all were born into a period worthy of them.

There is no wilderness like a life without friends.