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The Art of Worldly Wisdom

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First published in 1637, translated to English by Joseph Jacobs in 1892.

A collection of 300 aphorisms on life and the way you should live, Balthasar Gracian's work has been used as a modern day guide to life much in the way that Sun Tzu's Art of War or Machiavelli's The Prince has.

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Whether you realize it or not, everyone can always use more wisdom. While most of us acquire wisdom naturally through living our lives, it certainly can't hurt to pick up a really good book for additional words of advice. The wise words of the ancients seem more appealing to us on account of the pure fact that these people lived so many years ago. It's difficult for our contemporary minds to fully comprehend this basic fact. So, get off your computer, put down your electronic device, and read Gracian's The Art of Worldly Wisdom the old fashioned way.

Submitted by mcd.

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• About Balthasar Gracian

• • Preface

• Introduction

  • I. Of Balthasar Gracian and his Works
  • II. Of Maxims
  • III Of the ''Oráculo Manual''
  • Bibliographical Appendix
  • To the Reader

• The Art of Worldly Wisdom

  • Aphorisms 1-30
  • Aphorisms 31-60
  • Aphorisms 61-90
  • Aphorisms 91-120
  • Aphorisms 121-150
  • Aphorisms 151-180
  • Aphorisms 181-210
  • Aphorisms 211-240
  • Aphorisms 241-270
  • Aphorisms 271-300