Baltasar Gracián Quotes

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.

Readiness is the mother of luck.

There is no desert like living without friends. Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil. ’Tis the sole remedy against misfortune, the very ventilation of the soul. clix

Deal with people from whom you can learn

El encarecer es ramo de mentir.

Think with the Few and speak with the Many.

Some die because they feel everything, others because they feel nothing. Some are fools because they suffer no regrets, and others because they do.

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

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

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

It requires as much caution to tell the truth as to conceal it.

Things of the first importance are few; let appreciation be rare.

Things are done quickly enough if done well. If just quickly done they can be quickly undone.

To be of use and to know how to show yourself of use, is to be twice as useful.

Man's life is militia against man's malice.