Aphorism #104 Try your hand at Office.

[Admin]

Aphorism #104 Try your hand at Office.

It requires varied qualities, and to know which is needed taxes attention and calls for masterlydiscernment. Some demand courage, others tact. Those that merely require rectitude are the easiest, the most difficult those requiring cleverness. For the former all that is necessary is character; for the latter all one's attention and zeal may not suffice.

More... (http://www.balthasargracian.com?id=104)

[cafolini]

Here Balthasar seems to contradict himself regarding cleverness. It only seems to, because his conceptism traps him. He might recommend not to be clever without sense and dignity. Not the case when cleverness is just the frosting.