Share weight and woe, for misfortune falls with double force on him that stands alone.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Giving
Work is the price which is paid for reputation.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Reputation, Work
Work is the price that is paid for reputation.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Work
Quit while you’re ahead. All the best gamblers do.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Work
Mediocrity obtains more with application than superiority without it.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Perseverance
There are friendships merely for pleasure, some for the exchange of ideas. Rarest are those friends of one’s inmost self.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Friends
It is better to have too much courtesy than too little, provided you are not equally courteous to all, for that would be injustice.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Courtesy, Manners
It is better to sleep on things beforehand than lie awake about them afterwards.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Sleep
Never open the door to a lesser evil, for other ones invariably slink in after it.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Evil
When everyone covets something, they are easily annoyed by it.
—Baltasar Gracian
The passions are the humors of the mind, and the least excess sickens our judgment. If the disease spreads to the mouth, your reputation will be in danger.
—Baltasar Gracian
He that can live alone resembles the brute beast in nothing, the sage in much, and God in everything.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Solitude
Don’t take the wrong side of an argument just because your opponent has taken the right side.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Arguments
Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Wisdom
Respect yourself if you would have others respect you. – Gracian, Baltasar
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Self-Esteem, Self Respect
If you are wise, live as you can; if you cannot, live as you would.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Wisdom, Acceptance
Some are satisfied to stand politely before the portals of Fortune and to await her bidding; better those who push forward, and who employ their enterprise, who on the wings of their worth and valor seek to embrace luck and effectively to gain her favor.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Luck, Fortune
A wise man profits more from his enemies than a fool from his friends.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Enemies, Opposition, Enemy
Evil report carries further than any applause
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: News, Applause
He who laughs at everything is as big a fool as he who weeps at everything.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Laughter, Fools
A man is judged by his friends, for the wise and the foolish have never agreed.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Friendship
Nothing arouses ambition so much in the heart as the trumpet-clang of another’s fame.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Role models, Ambition
Aspire rather to be a hero than merely appear one.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Heroes/Heroism, Heroes, Heroism
We have more days to live through than pleasures. Be slow in enjoyment, quick at work, for men see work ended with pleasure, pleasure ended with regret.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Pleasure
Never do anything when you are in a temper, for you will do everything wrong.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Anger
The heaven of the envied is hell for the envious.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Envy, Jealousy
Treat your enemies with courtesy, and you’ll see how valuable it really is. It costs little but pays a nice dividend: those who honor are honored. Politeness and a sense of honor have this advantage: we bestow them on others without losing a thing.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Honor
Hope has a good memory, gratitude a bad one.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Gratitude
Let the first impulse pass, wait for the second.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Love
Even knowledge has to be in the fashion, and where it is not, it is wise to affect ignorance.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Fashion
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Rene Descartes French Mathematician, Philosopher
- Thomas Aquinas Italian Catholic Priest
- Pope John Paul II Polish Catholic Religious Leader
- Blaise Pascal French Philosopher, Scientist
- Francis of Assisi Italian Monk
- Sigrid Undset Norwegian Novelist
- Miguel de Unamuno Spanish Philosopher, Writer
- George Santayana Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
- Baruch Spinoza Dutch Philosopher
- Thomas Hobbes English Political Philosopher
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