The Art of Wordly Wisdom

The Art of Wordly Wisdom is a collection of maxims written by Baltasar Gracian y Morales (aka Baltasar Gracion) said to be popular all over Europe. The maxims cover various topics usually suggesting ways to a better disposition in life.

I picked some maxims that appealed to me for this post.

"Character and intellect: These are two poles of our capacity; one without the other is but halfway to happiness. Intellect is not enough, character is also needed. On the other hand, it is the fool's misfortune to fail in obtaining the position, employment, neighborhood and circle of friends of his choice."

"Avoid outshining your superiors. All victories breed hate, and that over your superior is foolish or fatal. Preeminence is always detested, especially over those who are in high positions. Caution can gloss over common advantages. For example, good looks may be cloaked by careless attire. There are some that will grant you superirority in good luck or in good temper, but none in good sense, least of all a prince - for good sense is a royal prerogative and any claim of superiority in that is a crime against majesty. They are princes, and wish to be so in that most princely of qualities. They will allow someone to help them but not to surpass them. So make any advice given to them appear like a recollection of somthing they have only forgotten rather than as a guide to something they cannot find. "

"Cultivate relationships with those who can teach you. Let friendly intercourse be a school of knowledge, and let culture be taught through conversation. Thus you make your friends your teachers and mingle the pleasures of conversation with the advantages of instruction."

"Knowledge and good intentions. Together they ensure continued success. A fine intellect wedded to a wicked will is always an unnatural monster. A wicked will poisons all perfections; helped by knowledge it only ruins with greater subtlety. It is a miserable superiority that only results in ruin. Knowledge without sense is doubly folly."

"Keep your imagination under control. You must sometimes correct it, sometimes assist it. For it is all important for our happiness and balances reason."

"Be a person of integrity. Cling to righteousness with such tenacity of purpose that neither the passions of the mob nor the violence of the tyrant can ever cause you to transgress the bounds of right."

"Know you strongest quality. Know your preeminent gift - cultivate it and it will assist the rest."'

"Think things over, especially those that are important. All fools come to frief from lack of thought."

"Never lose your self-respect. And do not be too self-conscious. Let your own integrity be the true standard of your rectitude, and let your own self-judgment be more strict than all external laws."

"Know how to wait. It is a sign of a noble heart to be endowed with patience, never to be in a hurry, never to be given over to passion."