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View Full Version : Balthasar Gracian's The Art of Worldly Wisdom


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  1. Aphorism #106 Do not parade your Position. (1 replies)
  2. Aphorism #105 Don't be a Bore. (1 replies)
  3. Aphorism #104 Try your hand at Office. (1 replies)
  4. Aphorism #103 Let each keep up his Dignity. (1 replies)
  5. Aphorism #102 Be able to stomach big slices of Luck. (1 replies)
  6. Aphorism #101 One half of the World laughs at the other, and Fools are they all. (1 replies)
  7. Aphorism #100 A Man without Illusions, a wise Christian, a philosophic Courtier. (1 replies)
  8. Aphorism #99 Reality and Appearance. (1 replies)
  9. Aphorism #98 Write your Intentions in Cypher. (1 replies)
  10. Aphorism #97 Obtain and preserve a Reputation. (2 replies)
  11. Aphorism #96 The highest Discretion. (0 replies)
  12. Aphorism #95 Keep Expectation alive. (1 replies)
  13. Aphorism #94 Keep the extent of your Abilities unknown. (1 replies)
  14. Aphorism #93 Versatility. (1 replies)
  15. Aphorism #92 Transcendant Wisdom. (1 replies)
  16. Aphorism #91 Never set to work at anything if you have any doubts of its Prudence (1 replies)
  17. Aphorism #90 The Secret of Long Life (1 replies)
  18. Aphorism #89 Know Yourself (1 replies)
  19. Aphorism #88 Let your Behaviour be Fine and Noble. (1 replies)
  20. Aphorism #87 Culture and Elegance. (1 replies)
  21. Aphorism #86 Prevent Scandal. (1 replies)
  22. Aphorism #85 Do not play Manille. (1 replies)
  23. Aphorism #84 Make use of your Enemies. (1 replies)
  24. Aphorism #83 Allow Yourself some venial Fault. (5 replies)
  25. Aphorism #82 Drain Nothing to the Dregs, neither Good nor Ill. (1 replies)
  26. Aphorism #81 Renew your Brilliance. (1 replies)
  27. Aphorism #80 Take care to get Information. (1 replies)
  28. Aphorism #79 A Genial Disposition (1 replies)
  29. Aphorism #78 The Art of undertaking Things. (1 replies)
  30. Aphorism #77 Be all Things to all Men (1 replies)
  31. Aphorism #76 Do not always be Jesting. (1 replies)
  32. Aphorism #75 Choose an Heroic Ideal; (0 replies)
  33. Aphorism #74 Do not be Unsociable. (1 replies)
  34. Aphorism #73 Utilise Slips. (1 replies)
  35. Aphorism #72 Be Resolute. (1 replies)
  36. Aphorism #71 Do not Vacillate. (1 replies)
  37. Aphorism #70 Know how to Refuse. (1 replies)
  38. Aphorism #69 Do not give way to every common Impulse. (1 replies)
  39. Aphorism #68 It is better to help with Intelligence than with Memory. (0 replies)
  40. Aphorism #67 Prefer Callings "en Evidence." (1 replies)
  41. Aphorism #66 See that Things end well. (1 replies)
  42. Aphorism #65 Elevated Taste. (1 replies)
  43. Aphorism #64 Avoid Worry. (1 replies)
  44. Aphorism #63 To he the First of the Kind is an Excellence, (1 replies)
  45. Aphorism #62 Use good Instruments. (1 replies)
  46. Aphorism #61 To Excel in what is Excellent. (1 replies)
  47. Aphorism #60 A Sound Judgment. (1 replies)
  48. Aphorism #59 Finish off well. (1 replies)
  49. Aphorism #58 Adapt Yourself to your Company. (1 replies)
  50. Aphorism #57 Slow and Sure. (1 replies)
  51. Aphorism #56 Have Presence of Mind. (1 replies)
  52. Aphorism #55 Wait. (1 replies)
  53. Aphorism #54 Know how to show your Teeth. (1 replies)
  54. Aphorism #53 Diligent and Intelligent. (1 replies)
  55. Aphorism #52 Never be put out. (1 replies)
  56. Aphorism #51 Know how to Choose well. (1 replies)
  57. Aphorism #50 Never lose Self-respect, (1 replies)
  58. Aphorism #49 Observation and Judgment. (1 replies)
  59. Aphorism #48 Be Thorough. (1 replies)
  60. Aphorism #47 Avoid "Affairs of Honour" (1 replies)
  61. Aphorism #46 Master your Antipathies. (1 replies)
  62. Aphorism #45 Use, but do not abuse, Cunning. (1 replies)
  63. Aphorism #44 Sympathy with great Minds. (1 replies)
  64. Aphorism #43 Think with the Few and speak with the Many. (1 replies)
  65. Aphorism #42 Born to Command. (1 replies)
  66. Aphorism #41 Never Exaggerate. (1 replies)
  67. Aphorism #40 The Goodwill of People. (0 replies)
  68. Aphorism #39 Recognise when Things are ripe, and then enjoy them. (1 replies)
  69. Aphorism #38 Leave your Luck while Winning. (1 replies)
  70. Aphorism #37 Keep a Store of Sarcasms, and know how to use them. (1 replies)
  71. Aphorism #36 In Acting or Refraining, weigh your Luck. (1 replies)
  72. Aphorism #35 Think over Things, most over the most Important. (1 replies)
  73. Aphorism #34 Know your strongest Point-- (1 replies)
  74. Aphorism #33 Know how to Withdraw. (1 replies)
  75. Aphorism #32 Have the Reputation of being Gracious. (1 replies)
  76. Aphorism #31 Select the Lucky and avoid the Unlucky. (1 replies)
  77. Aphorism #30 Have naught to do with Occupations of Ill-repute, (1 replies)
  78. Aphorism #29 A Man of Rectitude (1 replies)
  79. Aphorism #28 Common in Nothing. (1 replies)
  80. Aphorism #27 Prize Intensity more than Extent. (0 replies)
  81. Aphorism #26 Find out each Man's Thumbscrew. (1 replies)
  82. Aphorism #25 Know how to take a Hint. (1 replies)
  83. Aphorism #24 Keep the Imagination under Control; (1 replies)
  84. Aphorism #23 Be Spotless: (1 replies)
  85. Aphorism #22 A Man of Knowledge to the Point. (1 replies)
  86. Aphorism #21 The Art of being Lucky. (1 replies)
  87. Aphorism #20 A Man of the Age. (1 replies)
  88. Aphorism #19 Arouse no Exaggerated Expectations on entering. (1 replies)
  89. Aphorism #18 Application and Ability. (1 replies)
  90. Aphorism #17 Vary the Mode of Action; (1 replies)
  91. Aphorism #16 Knowledge and Good Intentions (1 replies)
  92. Aphorism #15 Keep Ministering Spirits. (1 replies)
  93. Aphorism #14 The Thing Itself and the Way it is done. (1 replies)
  94. Aphorism #13 Act sometimes on Second Thoughts, sometimes on First Impulse. (1 replies)
  95. Aphorism #12 Nature and Art: (1 replies)
  96. Aphorism #11 Cultivate those who can teach you. (1 replies)
  97. Aphorism #10 Fortune and Fame. (1 replies)
  98. Aphorism #9 Avoid the Faults of your Nation. (1 replies)
  99. Aphorism #8 To be without Passions. (1 replies)
  100. Aphorism #7 Avoid Victories over Superiors. (1 replies)
  101. Aphorism #6 A Man at his Highest Point. (1 replies)
  102. Aphorism #5 Create a Feeling of Dependence. (1 replies)
  103. Aphorism #4 Knowledge and Courage (1 replies)
  104. Aphorism #3 Keep Matters for a Time in Suspense. (1 replies)
  105. Aphorism #2 Character and Intellect: (0 replies)
  106. Aphorism #1 Everything is at its Acme; (1 replies)
  107. Aphorism #300 In one word, be a Saint. (1 replies)
  108. Aphorism #299 Leave off Hungry. (1 replies)
  109. Aphorism #298 Three Things go to a Prodigy. (1 replies)
  110. Aphorism #297 Always act as if your Acts were seen. (1 replies)
  111. Aphorism #296 Noble Qualities. (1 replies)
  112. Aphorism #295 Do not affect what you have not effected. (1 replies)
  113. Aphorism #294 Be moderate in your Views. (1 replies)
  114. Aphorism #293 Maturity. (2 replies)
  115. Aphorism #292 Let your personal Qualities surpass those of your Office, (0 replies)
  116. Aphorism #291 Know how to Test. (0 replies)
  117. Aphorism #290 (0 replies)
  118. Aphorism #289 Nothing depreciates a Man more than to show he is a Man like other Men (0 replies)
  119. Aphorism #288 Live for the Moment. (1 replies)
  120. Aphorism #287 Never act in a Passion. (0 replies)
  121. Aphorism #286 Do not become responsible for all or for every one, (1 replies)
  122. Aphorism #285 Never die of another's Ill-luck. (0 replies)
  123. Aphorism #284 Do not be Importunate, (0 replies)
  124. Aphorism #283 Have the Gift of Discovery. (0 replies)
  125. Aphorism #282 Make use of Absence to make yourself more esteemed or valued. (0 replies)
  126. Aphorism #281 Find Favour with Men of Sense. (0 replies)
  127. Aphorism #280 Be Trustworthy. (1 replies)
  128. Aphorism #279 Do not contradict the Contradicter. (0 replies)
  129. Aphorism #278 Avoid Notoriety in all Things. (0 replies)
  130. Aphorism #277 Display yourself. (0 replies)
  131. Aphorism #276 Know how to renew your Character, (1 replies)
  132. Aphorism #275 Join in the Game as far as Decency permits. (0 replies)
  133. Aphorism #274 Be Attractive. (0 replies)
  134. Aphorism #273 Comprehend their Dispositions with whom you deal, (1 replies)
  135. Aphorism #272 Sell Things by the Tariff of Courtesy. (0 replies)
  136. Aphorism #271 In every Occupation if you know little stick to the safest. (0 replies)
  137. Aphorism #270 Do not condemn alone that which pleases all. (1 replies)
  138. Aphorism #269 Make use of the Novelty of your Position; (0 replies)
  139. Aphorism #268 The Wise do at once what the Fool does at last. (1 replies)
  140. Aphorism #267 Silken Words, sugared Manners. (0 replies)
  141. Aphorism #266 Do not become Bad from sheer Goodness. (0 replies)
  142. Aphorism #265 Set those under you difficult Task, (0 replies)
  143. Aphorism #264 Have no careless Days. (0 replies)
  144. Aphorism #263 Many things of Taste one should not possess oneself. (0 replies)
  145. Aphorism #262 Be able to Forget. (0 replies)
  146. Aphorism #261 Do not follow up a Folly. (0 replies)
  147. Aphorism #260 We belong to none and none to us, entirely. (1 replies)
  148. Aphorism #259 Anticipate Injuries and turn them into Favours. (0 replies)
  149. Aphorism #258 Find out some one to share your Troubles. (0 replies)
  150. Aphorism #257 Never let Matters come to a Rupture, (0 replies)
  151. Aphorism #256 Go armed against Discourtesy, (0 replies)
  152. Aphorism #255 Do Good a little at a time, but often. (0 replies)
  153. Aphorism #254 Never despise an Evil, however small, (0 replies)
  154. Aphorism #253 Do not Explain overmuch. (1 replies)
  155. Aphorism #252 Neither belong entirely to Yourself nor entirely to Others. (1 replies)
  156. Aphorism #251 Use human Means as if there were no divine ones, and divine as if ther (0 replies)
  157. Aphorism #250 When to change the Conversation. (0 replies)
  158. Aphorism #249 Never begin Life with what should end it. (0 replies)
  159. Aphorism #248 Do not go with the last Speaker. (0 replies)
  160. Aphorism #247 Know a little more, live a little less. (0 replies)
  161. Aphorism #246 Never offer Satisfaction unless it is demanded. (0 replies)
  162. Aphorism #245 Original and out-of-the-way Views (0 replies)
  163. Aphorism #244 Create a feeling of Obligation. (0 replies)
  164. Aphorism #243 Do not be too much of a Dove. (0 replies)
  165. Aphorism #242 Push Advantages. (0 replies)
  166. Aphorism #241 Put up with Raillery, but do not practise it. (0 replies)
  167. Aphorism #240 Make use of Folly. (0 replies)
  168. Aphorism #239 Do not be Captious. (0 replies)
  169. Aphorism #238 Know what is wanting in Yourself. (0 replies)
  170. Aphorism #237 Never share the Secrets of your Superiors. (1 replies)
  171. Aphorism #236 Make an Obligation beforehand of what would have to be a Reward afterw (0 replies)
  172. Aphorism #235 Know how to Ask. (0 replies)
  173. Aphorism #234 Never trust your Honour to another, unless you have his in Pledge. (0 replies)
  174. Aphorism #233 Let not the proffered Morsel be distasteful; (0 replies)
  175. Aphorism #232 Have a Touch of the Trader. (0 replies)
  176. Aphorism #231 Never let Things be seen half-finished. (0 replies)
  177. Aphorism #230 Open your Eyes betimes. (0 replies)
  178. Aphorism #229 Plan out your Life wisely, (0 replies)
  179. Aphorism #228 Do not be a Scandal-monger. (0 replies)
  180. Aphorism #227 Do not be the Slave of First Impressions. (0 replies)
  181. Aphorism #226 Take care to be Obliging. (0 replies)
  182. Aphorism #225 Know your chief Fault. (0 replies)
  183. Aphorism #224 Never take Things against the Grain, (0 replies)
  184. Aphorism #223 Be not Eccentric, (0 replies)
  185. Aphorism #222 Reserve is proof of Prudence. (0 replies)
  186. Aphorism #221 Do not seize Occasions to embarrass Yourself or Others. (0 replies)
  187. Aphorism #220 If you cannot clothe Yourself in Lionskin use Foxpelt. (0 replies)
  188. Aphorism #219 Do not pass for a Hypocrite, (0 replies)
  189. Aphorism #218 Never act from Obstinacy but from Knowledge. (1 replies)
  190. Aphorism #217 Neither Love nor Hate, for ever (0 replies)
  191. Aphorism #216 Be Expressive. (0 replies)
  192. Aphorism #215 Watch him that acts on Second Thoughts. (0 replies)
  193. Aphorism #214 Do not turn one Blunder into two. (0 replies)
  194. Aphorism #213 Know how to Contradict. (0 replies)
  195. Aphorism #212 Keep to Yourself the final Touches of your Art. (0 replies)
  196. Aphorism #211 In Heaven all is bliss: (0 replies)
  197. Aphorism #210 Know how to play the Card of Truth. (0 replies)
  198. Aphorism #209 Keep Yourself free from common Follies. (0 replies)
  199. Aphorism #208 Do not die of the Fools' Disease. (0 replies)
  200. Aphorism #207 Be Moderate. (0 replies)
  201. Aphorism #206 Know that there are vulgar Natures everywhere, (0 replies)
  202. Aphorism #203 Know the great Men of your Age. (0 replies)
  203. Aphorism #182 A Grain of Boldness in Everything. (0 replies)
  204. Aphorism #181 The Truth, but not the whole Truth. (4 replies)
  205. Aphorism #176 Have Knowledge, or know those that have Knowledge. (0 replies)
  206. Aphorism #175 A Solid Man. (0 replies)
  207. Aphorism #174 Do not live in a Hurry. (1 replies)
  208. Aphorism #173 Do not be Glass in Intercourse, still less in Friendship. (0 replies)
  209. Aphorism #172 Never contend with a Man who has nothing to Lose; (0 replies)
  210. Aphorism #171 Waste not Influence. (0 replies)
  211. Aphorism #170 In all Things keep Something in Reserve. (0 replies)
  212. Aphorism #169 Be more careful not to Miss once than to Hit a hundred times. (0 replies)
  213. Aphorism #168 Do not indulge in the Eccentricities of Folly. (0 replies)
  214. Aphorism #167 Know how to take your own Part. (0 replies)
  215. Aphorism #166 Distinguish the Man of Words from the Man of Deeds. (0 replies)
  216. Aphorism #165 Wage War Honourably. (0 replies)
  217. Aphorism #164 Throw Straws in the Air, (0 replies)
  218. Aphorism #163 Never, from Sympathy with the Unfortunate, involve Yourself in his Fat (0 replies)
  219. Aphorism #162 How to triumph over Rivals and Detractors. (0 replies)
  220. Aphorism #161 Know your pet Faults. (0 replies)
  221. Aphorism #161 Know your pet Faults. (0 replies)
  222. Aphorism #160 Be careful in Speaking. (0 replies)
  223. Aphorism #159 Put up with Fools. (0 replies)
  224. Aphorism #158 Make use of your Friends. (0 replies)
  225. Aphorism #157 Do not make Mistakes about Character. (0 replies)
  226. Aphorism #156 Select your Friends. (0 replies)
  227. Aphorism #155 The Art of getting into a Passion. (0 replies)
  228. Aphorism #154 Do not Believe, or Like, lightly. (0 replies)
  229. Aphorism #153 Beware of entering where there is a great Gap to be filled. (0 replies)
  230. Aphorism #152 Never have a Companion who casts you in the Shade. (0 replies)
  231. Aphorism #151 Think beforehand. (0 replies)
  232. Aphorism #150 Know to get your Price for Things. (0 replies)
  233. Aphorism #149 Know how to put off Ills on Others. (0 replies)
  234. Aphorism #148 Have the Art of Conversation. (0 replies)
  235. Aphorism #147 Do not be Inaccessible. (0 replies)
  236. Aphorism #146 Look into the Interior of Things. (0 replies)
  237. Aphorism #145 Do not show your wounded Finger, (0 replies)
  238. Aphorism #144 Begin with Another's to end with your Own. (0 replies)
  239. Aphorism #143 Never become Paradoxical in order to avoid the Trite. (0 replies)
  240. Aphorism #142 Never from Obstinacy take the Wrong Side because your Opponent has ant (0 replies)
  241. Aphorism #141 Do not listen to Yourself. (0 replies)
  242. Aphorism #140 Find the Good in a Thing at once. (0 replies)
  243. Aphorism #139 Recognise unlucky Days. (0 replies)
  244. Aphorism #138 The Art of letting Things alone. (0 replies)
  245. Aphorism #137 The Sage should be Self-sufficing. (0 replies)
  246. Aphorism #136 Post Yourself in the Centre of Things. (0 replies)
  247. Aphorism #135 Do not nourish the Spirit of Contradiction. (0 replies)
  248. Aphorism #134 Double your Resources. (0 replies)
  249. Aphorism #133 Better Mad with the rest of the World than Wise alone. (0 replies)
  250. Aphorism #132 Revise your Judgments. (0 replies)