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
mediocrity application superiority
Mediocrity obtains more with application than superiority without it.
art finals artistic
Keep to yourself the final touches of your art.
heaven hell envious
The heaven of the envied is hell for the envious.
running quiet trouble
The best remedy for disturbances is to let them run their course, for so they quiet down.
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.
choices needs taste
Know how to choose well. Most of life depends thereon. It needs good taste and correct judgment, for which neither intellect nor study suffices.
deeds feminine masculine
Words are feminine; deeds are masculine.
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.
integrity done shows
They make the greatest show of what they have done, who have done least.
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.
passion color hue
Passion colors all that it touches in its own hues.
sweet taken smell
The hossanas of the multitude can never bring satisfaction to the discerning. Yet there exist those chamaleons of popularity who find their joy, not in the sweet breath of Apollo, but in the smell of the crowd. And not in mind: Do not be taken in by what are miracles to the populace, for the ignorant do not rise above marveling. Thus the stupidity of a crowd is lost in admiration, even as the brain of an individual uncovers the trick.
air house needs
One deceit needs many others, and so the whole house is built in the air and must soon come to the ground
courage
Knowledge without courage is sterile.