Baltasar Gracián y Morales

Spain
8 Jan 1601 // 6 Dec 1658
Writer / Philosopher

Quotes

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Never have a companion that casts you in the shade
Never do anything when you are in a temper, for you will do everything wrong
Many have had their greatness made for them by their enemies
Luck can be assisted. It is not all chance with the wise
Let the first impulse pass, wait for the second
Let him that hath no power of patience retire within himself, though even there he will have to put up with himself
It is good to vary in order that you may frustrate the curious, especially those who envy you
It is better to have too much courtesy than too little, provided you are not equally courteous to all, for that would be injustice
It is a great piece of skill to know how to guide your luck even while waiting for it
I strive to be brief, and I become obscure
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On Anger: "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
Essays
On Destiny: "Our destiny exercises its influence over us even when, as yet, we have not learned its nature: it is our future that lays down the law of our today."
Human, All Too Human
On Friendship: "A crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love."
Essays