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
Baltasar Gracian quotes about
reality expectations people
Honorable beginnings should serve to awaken curiosity, not to heighten people's expectations. We are much better off when reality surpasses our expectations, and something turns out better than we thought it would.
perfect advice upbraid
None is so perfect that he does not need at times the advice of others.
time clubs crutches
The crutch of Time accomplishes more than the club of Hercules.
wings luck bidding
Some are satisfied to stand politely before the portals of Fortune and to await her bidding; better those who push forward, who employ their enterprise, who on the wings of their worth and valor seek to embrace luck, and to effectively gain her favor.
needs opinion said
No' and 'Yes' are words quickly said, but they need a great amount of thought before you utter them.
teamwork teach
Cultivate those who can teach you.
thinking giving yes-and-no
Yes and no are soon said, but give much to think over.
skeletons keys leaving
No one demands more caution than a spy, and when someone has the skeleton key to minds, counter him by leaving the key of caution inside, on the other side of the keyhole.
perfect afar made
Everything foreign is respected, partly because it comes from afar, partly because it is ready made and perfect.
helping-others perspective matter
Help others solve their problems; standing farther away, you can often see matters more clearly than they do. . . The greatest service you can render someone else is helping him or her help themselves.
helping
The greatest service you can render someone else is helping him help himself.
knowing important
Knowing how to keep a friend is more important than gaining a new one.
loss missing risk
Never risk your reputation on a single shot, for if you miss the loss is irreparable.
littles mystery veneration
Mix a little mystery with everything, for mystery arouses veneration.