The Wisdom Of Gracian Flashcards
Promises
Number 191, Don’t be pleased with excessive courtesy, for it is a form of deception.
Whoever promises everything, promises nothing, and promises are a trap for fools.
Look in Caution’s mirror (before going out of your house)
The mirror was a standard attribute of Prudence when the virtue was personified.
Prudentia’s symbols are a mirror and a snake.
Don’t be bad by being totally good.
Birds quickly mock scarecrows. Sweetness alone is for children and fools.
Silken words, and a mild nature.
To know how to sell air, is one of life‘s subtlest skills.
Heroic not histrionic.
Don’t hire golden pens to write garbage, thereby disguising good sense. It was believed that a vain person was like a chameleon and that chameleons lived on air.
Three things make a prodigy.
A fertile intellect, sound judgement, and outstandingly excellent taste.
Don’t be tedious
What’s good if brief, is twice as good, even bad things if brief, are not so bad.
What’s well said, is quickly said.
Don’t hang around to be a setting sun.
Abandon things before they abandon you.
Know how to turn an ending into a triumph.
Nature and art, material and craft.
Beauty always needs a helping hand, and perfection is rough without the polish of artifice.
Everyone seems course without artifice (clever or cunning devices), and everyone needs its polish in all areas to be perfect.
Reality and manner
Substance is insufficient, circumstance is also vital. A bad manner ruins everything, even justice and reason, a good manner makes up for everything, gilds a ‘no’ , sweetens truth, and beautifies old age itself.
Graceful conduct is the chief ornament of life; it gets you out of any tight situation.
Have intelligent support
The good fortune of the powerful:- To be accompanied by outstanding minds that can save them from tight spots caused by their own ignorance and fight difficult battles for them.
Skilfully make those whom nature made superior your servants.
Vary your procedure
Not always the same way, so as to confound those observing you, especially if they are rivals.
Sharp players never move the piece their opponents are expecting, and especially not the one they want them to.
