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Baltasar Gracian Quotes

Baltasar Gracian quotes about greatness

Spanish Philosopher January 8, 1601 – December 6, 1658

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Quotes

A person of your century: Great persons are of their time. Not all were born into a period worthy of them, and many so born failed to benefit by it. Some merited a better century, for all that is good does not always triumph. Fashions have their periods and even the greatest virtues, their styles. But the philosopher, being ageless, has one advantage: Should this not prove the right century, many to follow will. Baltasar Gracian
Say farewell to luck when winning. It is the way of the gamblers of reputation. Quite as important as a gallant advance is a well-planned retreat. Lock up your winnings when they are enough, or when great. Continuous luck is always suspect; more secure is that which changes. Though half bitter and half sweet, it is more satisfying to the taste. The more luck pyramids, the greater the danger of slip and collapse. For luck always compensates her intensity by her brevity. Fortune wearies of... Baltasar Gracian
Two kinds of people are good at foreseeing danger: those who have learned at their own expense, and the clever people who learn a great deal at the expense of others. Baltasar Gracian
Baltasar Gracian quote: "Hope is a great falsifier. Let good judgment keep her in check."
Hope is a great falsifier. Let good judgment keep her in check. Baltasar Gracian
Never exaggerate. It is a matter of great importance to forego superlatives, in part to avoid offending the truth, and in part to avoid cheapening your judgment. Exaggeration wastes distinction and testifies to the paucity of your understanding and taste. Praise excites anticipation and stimulates desire. Afterwards when value does not measure up to price, disappointment turns against the fraud and takes revenge by cheapening both the appraised and the appraise. For this reason let the... Baltasar Gracian
Keep the extent of your abilities unknown. The wise man does not allow his knowledge and abilities to be sounded to the bottom, if he desires to be honored at all. He allows you to know them but not to comprehend them. No one must know the extent of his abilities, lest he be disappointed. No one ever has an opportunity of fathoming him entirely. For guesses and doubts about the extent of his talents arouse more veneration than accurate knowledge of them, be they ever so great. Baltasar Gracian
The great art of giving consists in this the gift should cost very little and yet be greatly coveted, so that it may be the more highly appreciated. Baltasar Gracian
Baltasar Gracian quote: "It is a great piece of skill to know how to guide your luck..."
It is a great piece of skill to know how to guide your luck even while waiting for it. Baltasar Gracian
Baltasar Gracian quote: "Many have had their greatness made for them by their enemies."
Many have had their greatness made for them by their enemies. Baltasar Gracian
Baltasar Gracian quote: "Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with..."
Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with every new assignment. Baltasar Gracian

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