Quotes By Baltasar Gracian

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 keeps up expectations, and no one ever discovers the limits of his talent.

He that communicates his secret to another makes himself that other's slave.

Evil report carries further than any applause.

We often have to put up with most from those on whom we most depend.

When desire dies, fear is born.

Fortunate people often have very favorable beginnings and very tragic endings. What matters isn't being applauded when you arrive - for that is common - but being missed when you leave.

Nature scarcely ever gives us the very best; for that we must have recourse to art.

Have friends. 'Tis a second existence.

A bad manner spoils everything, even reason and justice; a good one supplies everything, gilds a No, sweetens a truth, and adds a touch of beauty to old age itself.

Be content to act, and leave the talking to others.

There is always time to add a word, never to withdraw one.

Things do not pass for what they are, but for what they seem. Most things are judged by their jackets.

The wise does at once what the fool does at last.

Quit while you're ahead. All the best gamblers do.

To oblige persons often costs little and helps much.

He that has satisfied his thirst turns his back on the well.

Always leave something to wish for; otherwise you will be miserable from your very happiness.

Respect yourself if you would have others respect you.

A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends.

It is better to sleep on things beforehand than lie awake about them afterwards.

Work is the price which is paid for reputation.

The envious die not once, but as oft as the envied win applause.

Hope is a great falsifier. Let good judgment keep her in check.

Let the first impulse pass, wait for the second.

Let him that hath no power of patience retire within himself, though even there he will have to put up with himself.

It is better to have too much courtesy than too little, provided you are not equally courteous to all, for that would be injustice.

To be at ease is better than to be at business. Nothing really belongs to us but time, which even he has who has nothing else.

There is none who cannot teach somebody something, and there is none so excellent but he is excelled.

To equal a predecessor, one must have twice they worth.

A man of honour should never forget what he is because he sees what others are.