Balthasar Gracian's The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Archive]

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