Baltasar Gracian Quotes

Many pleasant things are better when they belong to someone else. When things belong to others, we enjoy them twice as much, without the risk of losing them, and with the pleasure of novelty.

Rate the intensive above the extensive. The perfect does not lie in quantity, but in quality.

He who finds Fortune on his side should go briskly ahead, for she is wont to favor the bold.

Keep expectation alive. Keep stirring it up. Let much promise more, and great deeds herald greater.

Hear, see, and be silent.

We have more days to live through than pleasures. Be slow in enjoyment, quick at work, for men see work ended with pleasure, pleasure ended with regret.

The wise are always impatient, for he that increases knowledge increases impatience of folly.

A prudent man will think more important what fate has conceded to him, than what it has denied.

The wise persono would rather see others needing him than thanking him.

They make the greatest show of what they have done, who have done least.

It is a great misfortune to be of use to nobody; scarcely less to be of use to everybody.

It is better to have too much courtesy than too little, provided you are not equally courteous to all, for that would be injustice.

Character and intelligence are the poles you talent spins on, displaying your gifts.

Advice is sometimes transmitted more successfully through a joke than grave teaching.

Evil report carries further than any applause.

Self knowledge is the beginning of self improvement.

Don't lie, but don't tell the whole truth.

Little said is soon amended. There is always time to add a word, never to withdraw one.

To be at ease is better than to be at business. Nothing really belongs to us but time, which you have even if you have nothing else.

One deceit needs many others, and so the whole house is built in the air and must soon come to the ground

Put yourself on view. This brings your talents to light.

Exaggeration is a prodigality of the judgment which shows the narrowness of one's knowledge or one's taste.

All men are idolators, some of fame, others of self-interest, most of pleasure.

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

Fortune soon tires of carrying anyone long on her shoulders.

The liar suffers twice: he neither believes nor is believed.

Maturity of mind is best shown in slow belief.

Hope has a good memory, gratitude a bad one.

Sometimes it proves the highest understanding not to understand.

Lies always come first, dragging fools along by their irreparable vulgarity. Truth always lags last, limping along on the arm of time.

Fortune pays you sometimes for the intensity of her favors by the shortness of their duration. She soon tires of carrying any one long on her shoulders.

Nothing is good for him for whom nothing is bad.

Maturity is the slowness in which a man believes.

There is no wilderness like a life without friends; friendship multiplies blessings and minimizes misfortunes; it is a unique remedy against adversity, and it soothes the soul.

Keep to yourself the final touches of your art.

The truth is generally seen, rarely heard.

There is no desert like being friendless.

You can cultivate taste, as you can the intellect. Full understanding whets the appetite and desire, and, later, sharpens the enjoyment of possession.

A wise prince must never take things easy in times of peace.

No' and 'Yes' are words quickly said, but they need a great amount of thought before you utter them.

Knowledge and courage take turns at greatness.

There is none who cannot teach somebody something, and there is none so excellent but he is excelled.

Make your friends your teachers and mingle the pleasures of conversation with the advantages of instruction.

Beauty and folly are generally companions.

An ounce of prudence is worth a pound of cleverness.

Aspire rather to be a hero than merely appear one.

We live by information, not by sight.

When desire dies, fear is born.

Begin with another's to end with your own.

The wise does at once what the fool does at last.