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
memories remember forgotten
The things we remember best are those better forgotten.
loss missing risk
Never risk your reputation on a single shot, for if you miss the loss is irreparable.
time truth lag
Truth always lags behind, limping along on the arm of Time.
writing letters chance
Chance has something to say in everything, even how to write a good letter
dignity offensive attraction
It is more offensive to outshine in dignity than in personal attractions.
fashion achievement promise
Know how to keep anticipation alive: always strive to feed it, by letting the much promise more, and the one achievement be the announcement only of a greater. Put not all your reserves into the first throw; the great trick is to dole out strength, and to dole out mind, in such a fashion as to bring forward increasingly the fulfillment of what was expected of you.
gratitude grateful heaven
The heaven of the envied is hell for the envious. [...because they focus on what they don't have rather than being grateful for what they have, which is always better than some others.]
success satisfaction
Success rarely brings satisfaction.
wise learning ignorance
The greatest wisdom often consist in ignorance.
motivation men age
Know the great men of your age.
adversity prosperity
One who was adored by all in prosperity is abhorred by all in adversity.
knowing important
Knowing how to keep a friend is more important than gaining a new one.
honor losing advantage
Politeness and a sense of honor have this advantage: we bestow them on others without losing a thing.
thinking fool
The greatest fool is he who thinks he is not one and all others are.