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
fashion style doe
A person of your century: Great persons are of their time. Not all were born into a period worthy of them, and many so born failed to benefit by it. Some merited a better century, for all that is good does not always triumph. Fashions have their periods and even the greatest virtues, their styles. But the philosopher, being ageless, has one advantage: Should this not prove the right century, many to follow will.
time truth lag
Truth always lags behind, limping along on the arm of Time.
eye deception ears
Deceit comes in through the ears, but usually leaves through the eyes.
patience no-patience retiring
Let him that hath no power of patience retire within himself, though even there he will have to put up with himself.
future deeds tomorrow
It is a great deed to leave nothing for tomorrow.
nature art needs
Nature often lets us down when we most need her; let us turn to art.
helping
The greatest service you can render someone else is helping him help himself.
mountain lightning strikes
Censure is like the lightning which strikes the highest mountains.
cities beast wild-beasts
The truest wild beasts live in the most populous places.
annoyed greed
When everyone covets something, they are easily annoyed by it.
real real-friends existence
Have Friends. 'Tis a second existence.
wisdom forever waiting
Wisdom is immortal. She can wait forever, but you cannot.
expectations people each-day
Don't show off every day, or you'll stop surprising people. There must always be some novelty left over. The person who displays a little more of it each day keeps up expectations, and no one ever discovers the limits of his talent.
wisdom intelligence sage
The sage has one advantage: he is immortal. If this is not his century, many others will be.