A bad manner spoils everything, even reason and justice; a good one supplies everything, gilds a No, sweetens a truth, and adds a touch of beauty to old age itself.

— Baltasar Gracian

A beautiful woman should break her mirror early.

— Baltasar Gracian

Advice is sometimes transmitted more successfully through a joke than grave teaching.

— Baltasar Gracian

Always leave something to wish for otherwise you will be miserable from your very happiness.

— Baltasar Gracian

A prudent man will think more important what fate has conceded to him than what it has denied.

— Baltasar Gracian

A sage has one advantage he is immortal. If this is not his century many others will be.

— Baltasar Gracian

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

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 nothing at all.

— Baltasar Gracian

A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends.

— Baltasar Gracian

Begin with another's to end with your own.

— Baltasar Gracian