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All men are idolators, some of fame, others of self-interest, most of pleasure.

Baltasar Gracian

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Baltasar Gracian
Age: 57 †
Born: 1601
Born: January 16
Died: 1658
Died: December 6
Jesuit
Philosopher
Writer
Belmonte de Gracian
Balthasar Gracian
Baltasar Gracian
Baltasar Gracián y Morales
Others
Self
Men
Fame
Pleasure
Interest

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The wise persono would rather see others needing him than thanking him.
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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.
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Censure is like the lightning which strikes the highest mountains.
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Man is born a barbarian, and only raises himself above the beast by culture.
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Know what is evil, no matter how worshipped it may be. Let the man of sense not mistake it, even when clothed in brocade, or at times crowned in gold, because it cannot thereby hide its hypocrisy, for slavery does not lose its infamy, however noble the master.
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An ounce of prudence is worth a pound of cleverness.
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You can cultivate taste, as you can the intellect. Full understanding whets the appetite and desire, and, later, sharpens the enjoyment of possession.
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Peacemakers not only live, they rule life.
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There is none who cannot teach somebody something, and there is none so excellent but he is excelled.
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The truth is generally seen, rarely heard.
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Excellence resides in quality, not in quantity. The best is always few and rare much lowers value.
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Keep to yourself the final touches of your art.
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Dreams will get you nowhere, a good kick in the pants will take you a long way.
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Even monarchs have need of authors, and fear their pens more than ugly women the painter's pencil.
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Display startling novelty-rise afresh like the sun every day. Change too the scene on which you shine, so that you rloss may be felt in the old scenes of your triumph, while the novelty of your powers wins applause in the new.
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Lies always come first, dragging fools along by their irreparable vulgarity. Truth always lags last, limping along on the arm of time.
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Many pleasant things are better when they belong to someone else. When things belong to others, we enjoy them twice as much, without the risk of losing them, and with the pleasure of novelty.
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We often have to put up with most from those on whom we most depend.
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Nature scarcely ever gives us the very best for that we must have recourse to art.
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To be at ease is better than to be at business.
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