Inspirational Quotes by Baltasar Gracian (Spanish Philosopher, Prose Writer)

Inspirational Quotations by Baltasar Gracian (Spanish Philosopher, Prose Writer)

Baltasar Gracián (1601–58,) fully Baltasar Jerónimo Gracián y Morales, was a Spanish baroque moralist, Jesuit scholar, and philosophical novelist. Considered one of the greatest prose masters of Spain’s Golden Age, he was the foremost Spanish exponent of conceptism (“conceptismo,”) a literary style that employs terse and subtle displays of exaggerated wit.

Born in Belmonte de Calatayud, Spain, Gracián studied at Calatayud and Zaragoza. He entered the Jesuit order at the age of 18 and became rector of the Jesuit College at Tarragona.

Gracián’s initial works—El héroe (1637; ‘The Hero,’) El discreto (1646; ‘The Compleat Gentleman,’) and El oráculo manual y arte de prudencia (1647; ‘The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle’)—were predominantly efforts to instruct people in the ethics of worldly life. His literary style of conceptism was first presented in Agudeza y arte de ingenio (1642, ‘Subtlety and the Art of Genius.’)

Gracián published pseudonymously El criticón (1651, 1653, 1657; The Critick, 1781,) a three-part philosophical novel that portrays a pessimistic allegorical vision of human life. Arthur Schopenhauer considered it one of the best books ever written.

Gracián’s works influenced Francois de La Rochefoucauld, and later Voltaire, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Jorge Luis Borges. Arthur Schopenhauer considered El criterión one of the best books ever written.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Baltasar Gracian

Begin with another’s to end with your own.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Originality

Never open the door to the least of evils, for many other, greater ones lurk outside.
—Baltasar Gracian

It is more offensive to outshine in dignity than in personal attractions.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Dignity

A single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Reputation

The things we remember the best are those better forgotten.
—Baltasar Gracian

There is none who cannot teach somebody something, and there is none so excellent but he is excelled.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Excellence

Mediocrity obtains more with application than superiority without it.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Perseverance

Many have had their greatness made for them by their enemies.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Danger

Share weight and woe, for misfortune falls with double force on him that stands alone.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Giving

Good things, when short, are twice as good.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Brevity

Be content to act, and leave the talking to others.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Action

Don’t show off every day, or you’ll stop surprising people. There must always be some novelty left over. The person who displays a little more of it each day keep up expectations, and no one ever discovers the limits of his talents.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Strength

Oh life, you should never had begun, but since you did, you should never end.
—Baltasar Gracian

The wise man would rather see men needing him than thanking him.
—Baltasar Gracian

Never contend with a man who has nothing to lose.
—Baltasar Gracian
Topics: Leadership, Losing, Losers, Fighting, Loss