The Art of Worldly Wisdom Quotes

“Words should be the pledges of work, and, like pawn-tickets, have their market price.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“The Truth, but not the whole Truth. Nothing demands more caution than the truth: ’tis the lancet of the heart. It requires as much to tell the truth as to conceal it. A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity. The deceit is regarded as treason and the deceiver as a traitor, which is worse. Yet not all truths can be spoken: some for our own sake, others for the sake of others. clxxxii”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“The greater your exploits the less you need affect them: content yourself with doing, leave the talking to others.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“But a man of honour should never forget what he is because he sees what others are.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“moral cowardice lowers one more than physical. Many have had eminent qualities, yet, for want of a stout heart, they passed inanimate lives and found a tomb in their own sloth. Wise Nature has thoughtfully combined in the bee the sweetness of its honey with the sharpness of its sting. lv”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“Things of the first importance are few; let appreciation be rare.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“a misfortune cannot surprise a man who has already feared it.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“When you are on the way to fortune associate with the eminent; when arrived, with the mediocre. cliii”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“There is no desert like living without friends. Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil. ’Tis the sole remedy against misfortune, the very ventilation of the soul. clix”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“Only Truth can give true reputation: only reality can be of real profit.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“Some people belong entirely to others… They have not a day, not an hour to call their own, so completely do they give themselves to others. This is true even in matters of understanding. Some people know everything for others and nothing for themselves.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“This is the single advantage of power, that it enables the holder to do more good.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle

“They make the greatest show of what they have done, who have done least.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle

“Know the fortunate in order to choose them, and the unfortunate in order to flee from them. Bad luck is usually brought on by stupidity, and among outcasts nothing is so contagious. Never open the door to the least of evils, for many other, greater ones lurk outside. The trick is to know what cards to get rid of. The least card in the winning hand in front of you is more important than the best card in the losing hand you just laid down. When in doubt, it is good to draw near the wise and the prudent. Sooner or later they will be fortunate.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle

“Half the world is laughing at the other half, and all are fools.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle

“Look beneath the surface. Things are usually very different from how they initially appeared, and ignorance, which didn't look beneath the surface, turns to disillusion when it penetrates to the interior. Falsehood always arrives first; it drags along fools with their endless vulgarity. Truth always arrives last, and late, limping along with Time.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle

“Engage with reason so misfortune doesn't contend with you.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle

“Celerity is the mother of good fortune. He has done much who leaves nothing over till to-morrow. Festina lente is a royal motto. liv”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“Do not live by certain fixed rules, except those that relate to the cardinal virtues. Nor let your will subscribe fixed conditions, for you may have to drink the water to-morrow which you cast away to-day.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“Speech was given us to conceal our thoughts”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“Every human being is born a barbarian, and only culture redeems them from the bestial.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle

“Sell Things by the Tariff of Courtesy. You oblige people most that way. The bid of an interested buyer will never equal the return gift of an honourable recipient of a favour. Courtesy does not really make presents, but really lays men under obligation, and generosity is the great obligation. To a right-minded man nothing costs more dear that what is given him: you sell it him twice and for two prices: one for the value, one for the”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“politeness. At the same time it is true that with vulgar souls generosity is gibberish,
for they do not understand the language of good breeding.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

“Never stumble over fools. A fool is someone who doesn’t recognize a fool, and, even more, someone who does, but doesn’t get rid of him. Fools are dangerous to deal with, even superficially, and do much harm if you confide in them. For a while they are held back by their own caution or that of others, but the delay serves only to deepen their foolishness. Someone who has no reputation can do only harm to yours. Fools are always unfortunate—this is their burden—and their double misfortune sticks to them and rubs off on those they deal with. They have only one thing that isn’t completely bad: although the wise are of no use to them, they can be of use to the wise, as negative examples.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle

“Criticism, like lightning, strikes the highest peaks”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle

“Pride yourself on the fact that if gallantry, generosity, and fidelity disappeared from the world, they could be found in you.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle

“When caprice and conviction are found together, they are always indissolubly wed to folly.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle

“Quit while you’re ahead. All the best gamblers do. A fine retreat matters as much as a stylish attack. As soon as they are enough—even when they are many—cash in your deeds. A long run of good fortune is always suspicious. You’re safer when good luck alternates with bad, and, besides, that makes for bittersweet enjoyment. When luck comes racing in on us, it is more likely to slip and smash everything to pieces. Sometimes Lady Luck compensates us, trading intensity for duration. She grows tired when she has to carry someone on her back for a long time.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle

“Being eccentric will only ruin your reputation. Your own special impertinence will rouse laughter in some and annoyance in others.”
― Baltasar Gracián, The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle

“Acabada la dependencia, acaba la correspondencia, y con ella la estimación.”
― Baltasar Gracián, Oráculo manual y arte de la prudencia. Con notas aclaratorias.