Baltasar Gracian
Baltasar Gracian
Baltasar Gracián y Morales, SJ, formerly Anglicized as Baltazar Gracian, was a Spanish Jesuit and baroque prose writer and philosopher. He was born in Belmonte, near Calatayud. His writings were lauded by Schopenhauer and Nietzsche...
NationalitySpanish
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth8 January 1601
CountrySpain
passion color hue
Passion colors all that it touches in its own hues.
mistake men hypocrisy
Know what is evil, no matter how worshipped it may be. Let the man of sense not mistake it, even when clothed in brocade, or at times crowned in gold, because it cannot thereby hide its hypocrisy, for slavery does not lose its infamy, however noble the master.
character understanding desire
You can cultivate taste, as you can the intellect. Full understanding whets the appetite and desire, and, later, sharpens the enjoyment of possession.
revenge men generosity
When a man's knowledge is deep, he speaks well of an enemy. Instead of seeking revenge, he extends unexpected generosity. He turns insult into humor, ... and astonishes his adversary who finds no reason not to trust him.
wise advice easy
A wise prince must never take things easy in times of peace.
wise skills luck
There are rules to luck, not everything is chance for the wise; luck can be helped by skill.
school reflection self
Self-reflection is the school of wisdom.
maturity mind belief
Maturity of mind is best shown in slow belief.
light advice forgotten
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.
mediocrity application superiority
Mediocrity obtains more with application than superiority without it.
heaven hell envious
The heaven of the envied is hell for the envious.
art finals artistic
Keep to yourself the final touches of your art.
lying dont-lie whole-truth
Don't lie, but don't tell the whole truth.
teacher teaching humor
Advice is sometimes transmitted more successfully through a joke than grave teaching.