The best skill at cards is knowing when to discard. Baltasar Gracian More Quotes by Baltasar Gracian More Quotes From Baltasar Gracian Watchfulness is the only guard against cunning. Be intent on his intentions. Many succeed in making others do their own affairs, and unless you possess the key to their motives you may at any moment be forced to take their chestnuts out of the fire to the damage of your own fingers. Baltasar Gracian keysfiremay Put a grain of boldness into everything you do. Baltasar Gracian being-yourselfperseverancesuccess 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 Gracian perspectivehelping-othersmatter A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends. Baltasar Gracian wiseinspirationalknowledge Folly consists not in committing Folly, but in being incapable of concealing it. All men make mistakes, but the wise conceal the blunders they have made, while fools make them public. Reputation depends more on what is hidden than on what is seen. If you can’t be good, be careful. Baltasar Gracian wisemistakemen A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity. Baltasar Gracian truthintegritylying At twenty a man is a peacock, at thirty a lion, at forty a camel, at fifty a serpent, at sixty a dog, at seventy an ape, at eighty a nothing at all. Baltasar Gracian dogtimemen When a man's knowledge is deep, he speaks well of an enemy. Instead of seeking revenge, he extends unexpected generosity. He turns insult into humor, ... and astonishes his adversary who finds no reason not to trust him. Baltasar Gracian generosityrevengemen Words are feminine; deeds are masculine. Baltasar Gracian femininemasculinedeeds Always leave something to wish for; otherwise you will be miserable from your very happiness. Baltasar Gracian wishhappyhappiness To oblige people often costs little and helps much. Baltasar Gracian costhelpinglittles Truth is for the minority. Baltasar Gracian truth-isminoritiestruth Character and intelligence are the poles you talent spins on, displaying your gifts. Baltasar Gracian characterphilosophyart Don't express your ideas too clearly. Most people think little of what they understand, and venerate what they do not. Baltasar Gracian peopleideasthinking Attempt easy tasks as if they were difficult, and difficult as if they were easy; in the one case that confidence may not fall asleep, in the other that it may not be dismayed. Baltasar Gracian confidenceachievementfall It is a great piece of skill to know how to guide your luck even while waiting for it. Baltasar Gracian good-luckskillsbusiness Never participate in the secrets of those above you; you think you share the fruit, and you share the stones - the confidence of a prince is not a grant, but a tax Baltasar Gracian confidencesecretthinking Know how to choose well. Most of life depends thereon. It needs good taste and correct judgment, for which neither intellect nor study suffices. Baltasar Gracian choicestasteneeds Treat your enemies with courtesy, and you'll see how valuable it really is. It costs little but pays a nice dividend: those who honor are honored. Politeness and a sense of honor have this advantage: we bestow them on others without losing a thing. Baltasar Gracian nicehonorenemy The wise persono would rather see others needing him than thanking him. Baltasar Gracian thanking-himwiseadvice
