Explore Quotes by Baltasar Gracian

The sage has one advantage: he is immortal. If this is not his century, many others will be.

An ounce of prudence is worth a pound of cleverness.

Fools rush in through the door; for folly is always bold.

Courtesy is the politic witchery of great personages.

All victories breed, and that over your superior is foolish or fatal.

Many have had their greatness made for them by their enemies.

Nothing arouses ambition so much in the heart as the trumpet-clang of another's fame.

The sole advantage of power is that you can do more good.

Luck can be assisted. It is not all chance with the wise.

He who puts off nothing till tomorrow has done a great deal.

What the multitude says, is so, or soon will be so.

Have Friends. 'Tis a second existence.

To keep is more important than to make friends.

The path to greatness is along with others.

Lies always come first, dragging fools along by their irreparable vulgarity. Truth always lags last, limping along on the arm of time.

Nature often lets us down when we most need her; let us turn to art.

Knowledge and courage take turns at greatness.

It is a great deed to leave nothing for tomorrow.

Beauty and folly are generally companions.

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.

Every fool stands convinced; and everyone convinced is a fool. The faultier a person's judgement the firmer their convictions.