Baltasar Gracian Quotes

There is no beauty unaided, no excellence that does not sink to the barbarous, unless saved by art.

Some would be sages if they did not believe they were so already.

Politeness is the chief sign of culture.

Tis by no means the least of life's rules: To let things alone.

The things we remember best are those better forgotten.

It is impossible to live without brains, either one's own or borrowed.

The best remedy for disturbances is to let them run their course, for so they quiet down.

There is no revenge like oblivion, for it is the entombment of the unworthy in the dust of their own nothingness.

The worthless usually live long.

Peacemakers not only live, they rule life.

Cunning grows in deceit at seeing itself discovered, and tries to deceive with truth itselft.

Do not show your wounded finger for everything will knock up against it.

Leave your luck while still winning.

Do not make mistakes about character. Better be cheated in the price than in the quality of goods.

Wisdom is immortal. She can wait forever, but you cannot.

To overvalue something is a form of lying.

We often have to put up with most from those on whom we most depend.

He who laughs at everything is as big a fool as he who weeps at everything.

It is a great deed to leave nothing for tomorrow.

The greatest fool is he who thinks he is not one and all others are.

Cultivate those who can teach you.

Knowledge without wisdom is double folly.

You should avoid making yourself too clear even in your explanations.

It is more offensive to outshine in dignity than in personal attractions.

What is not seen is as if it was not. Even the Right does not receive proper consideration if it does not seem right.

Wise men appreciate all men, for they see the good in each and know how hard it is to make anything good.

Nature often lets us down when we most need her; let us turn to art.

You may be obliged to wage war, but not to use poisoned arrows.

What the multitude says, is so, or soon will be so.

A man is judged by his friends, for the wise and the foolish have never agreed.

Hope is a great falsifier of truth.

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.

If you are wise, live as you can; if you cannot, live as you would.

If to talk to oneself when alone is folly, it must be doubly unwise to listen to oneself in the presence of others.

The happy are an exception who enjoy innocently their simple happiness.

Never risk your reputation on a single shot, for if you miss the loss is irreparable.

It takes more to make one sage today than it did to make the seven of Greece. And you need more resources to deal with a single person these days than with an entire nation in times past.

Yes and no are soon said, but give much to think over.

The true way is the middle one, halfway between deserving a place and pushing oneself into it.

Chance has something to say, even how to write a good letter.

A brand new mediocrity is thought more of than accustomed excellence.

Many get the repute of being witty but thereby lose the credit of being sensible. Jest has its little hour, seriousness should have all the rest.

The truest wild beasts live in the most populous places.

For a thing to remain undone nothing more is needed than to think of it done.

The sage has one advantage: he is immortal. If this is not his century, many others will be.

There is no wilderness like a life without friends.

Wisdom and courage make mutual contributions to greatness.

Few are the friends of a mans self, most those of his circumstances.

Fools rush in through the door; for folly is always bold.

There are certain inessential activities-moths of precious time-and it is worse to busy yourself with the trivial than to do nothing.