Help others solve their problems; standing farther away, you can often see matters more clearly than they do. . . The greatest service you can render someone else is helping him or her help themselves.
Baltasar GracianRead
Never open the door to a lesser evil, for other and greater ones invariably slink in after it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Don't allow small problems to lead to larger, more significant issues.
This quote by Baltasar Gracian warns against the acceptance of minor evils, suggesting that by engaging with or allowing small negative aspects into our lives, we make way for greater, more detrimental ones. It highlights the importance of being vigilant and discerning in our choices, as accepting even minor wrongs can set a precedent for larger ones to follow, ultimately leading us down a path of increasing negativity and complications.
Themes
EvilChoicesWisdomVigilanceConsequences
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about personal integrity, this quote can emphasize the importance of standing firm in one's values.
More from Baltasar Gracian
All quotes βIt is a novel kind of supremacy, the best that life can offer, to have as servants by skill those who by nature are our masters.
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The envious die not once, but as oft as the envied win applause.
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