This perennially popular book of advice on how to achieve personal and professional success is valued for its timeless insights on how to make one's way in the world. Written in the seventeenth century by a Spanish Jesuit scholar, these teachings are strikingly modern in tone and address universal concerns such as friendship, morality, managing emotions, and effective leadership. The Art of Worldly Wisdom is for anyone seeking to combine ethical behavior with worldly success.

This edition of The Art of Worldly Wisdom includes an informative introduction by Willis Barnstone, Distinguished Professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature at Indiana University. Barnstone, a noted translator, critic, and poet, explores Graci n's background and places him within his historical and literary context.

Think with the few and speak with the many, Friends are a second existence, and Be able to forget are among this volume's 300 thought-provoking maxims on politics, professional life, and personal development. The author's timeless advice, focusing on honesty and kindness, remains ever popular. A perfect browsing book of mental and spiritual refreshment, it can be opened at random and appreciated either for a few moments or for an extended period.

El Critic n es una obra maestra de la literatura universal. Expresa el desenga o del mundo mientras intenta dar una lecci n moral. El Critic n viaja a trav s de las edades del hombre mediante el di logo entre uno maduro, Critilo (encarna el juicio y la reflexi n) y otro joven, Andrenio (criado por una fiera, hombre natural y sin contacto social). Este recorrido va desde su encuentro en la isla de Santa Elena hasta la llegada a la isla de la Inmortalidad. Comienza en la ni ez o primavera, prosigue en la juventud o verano; el oto o corresponde a la madurez, la fase juiciosa de la edad del hombre y finaliza en el invierno de la vejez. Grandes admiradores de Graci n fueron Goethe, Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche o Azor n. Schopenhauer dijo de Graci n que nos hab a dado uno de los mejores libros del mundo (El Critic n). Seg n Nietzsche, Europa no ha producido nada tan fino ni profundo en materia de sutileza moral.

1. Carácter e Intelecto: los 2 polos de nuestra capacidad, una sin la otra son la mitad de la felicidad. El Intelecto no es suficiente, el Carácter es necesario. 2. No digas nada: El valor de tus logros se incrementa por su novedad. Es inútil y estupido jugar con todas tus cartas sobre la mesa. Si no declaras lo que vas a hacer causas expectativas, especialmente cuando eres objeto de atención general. Ponle misterio a todo, el misterio causa veneración. Cuando expliques tus cosas, no seas explícito, para que no expongas tus pensamientos. El silencio es el santuario del Arte de la Prudencia. Una resolución que se dice a los demás no está bien pensada y se vuelve objeto de críticas; si resultara un fracaso, serías doblemente desafortunado. Haz que la gente se pregunte qué estas haciendo y que te observe. 3. Sabiduría y Valor: Son los elementos de la grandeza, dan inmortalidad. Uno vale lo que sabe. Una persona sin conocimientos vive en la oscuridad. El Saber sin Valor es estéril. 4. Haz que la gente dependa de ti: La persona sabia hará que los otros sientan más necesidad de él que agradecimiento. Manténlos con esperanza, pero no te confíes de su gratitud, la esperanza tiene buena memoria, pero la gratitud no. Se consigue más de la dependencia que de la cortesía. El que ha colmado su sed le da la espalda al pozo y la naranja que ha sido exprimida es tirada a la basura. Cuando la dependencia termina tambien acaban las consideraciones y el respeto. Mantén viva la esperanza sin satisfacerla completamente, preservala para que siempre seas necesitado.

This Publication Contains the Original 300 Proverbs, Maxims, and Aphorisms Regarding Politics, Professional Life, Personal Integrity and Personal Development. - timeless advice, focusing on honesty and kindness.

Una buena parte de las obras de Graci n tiene como prop sito suministrar al lector las habilidades y recursos que le permitan desenvolverse con xito entre las trampas de la vida. Despert inter s y admiraci n en los moralistas franceses de los siglos XVII y XVIII, y en el XIX la de Schopenhauer, quien recibi la influencia del pensamiento graciano y tradujo al alem n el 'Or culo manual y arte de prudencia'. Su versi n, muy fiel al esp ritu del autor espa ol fue conocida por Nietzsche; ste manifest en una de sus cartas: Europa no ha producido nada m s fino ni m s profundo en materia de sutileza moral. Actualmente Graci n ejerce una gran fascinaci n e influencia en todos aquellos lectores que en estos tiempos se acercan a su obra, ya sea por su condensada y extremadamente concisa prosa, bien por la sabidur a que rezuma en sus libros, derivada de su inimitable capacidad para observar y analizar las conductas humanas. ( Extracto del Pr logo a cargo de Jos Luis Prieto )

A Pocket Mirror for Heroes is a mirror because it reflects the person you are or the one you ought to be. It is a pocket mirror because its author took the time to be brief. And it is a mirror for heroes because it provides a vivid image of ethical and moral perfection to which all can aspire. The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracian was all but forgotten for three hundred years, until its republication in 1992 turned this lost classic into a New York Times bestseller. Now Gracian, the Spanish Jesuit considered Machiavelli's better in strategy and insight, sets a new standard on the art of living and the practice of achieving. That new standard is the art of heroism--how to be the consummate person, ripe and perfect: accurate in judgment, mature in taste, attentive in listening, wise in sayings, shrewd in deeds, the center of all perfection.

Gracian teaches the reader to be a giant--the greatest person possible, a miracle of perfection, a king. Wit, wisdom, courage, elegance, grace, humility, spontaneity--these are the qualities needed to reach heroism in any occupation. But it is not enough to be wise or graceful: one must learn as well how to manage that talent, how to distinguish a quality fiom its shadow. A Pocket Mirror for Heroes provides a politics for governing oneself, a compass for sailing toward excellence, an art for reaching distinction with just a few rules of discretion, and it will be wise and witty company for anyone who recognizes--and relishes--the challenges of daily life.

Baltasar Graci n, in full Baltasar Graci n y Morales, (born January 8, 1601, Belmonte de Calatayud, Spain--died December 6, 1658, Tarazona), philosopher and writer known as the leading Spanish exponent of conceptism (conceptismo), a style of dealing with ideas that involves the use of terse and subtle displays of exaggerated wit.

After studying at Calatayud and Zaragoza, Graci n entered the Jesuit order at the age of 18 and later became rector of the Jesuit college at Tarragona. His early works--El h roe (1637; The Hero), El discreto (1646; The Compleat Gentleman), and El or culo manual y arte de prudencia (1647; The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle)--were largely efforts to educate people in the ethics of worldly life. His literary ideas on conceptism and the art of conceited writing (writing that continually shocks the reader by the use of startling metaphor) were clearly set forth in Agudeza y arte de ingenio (1642, 2nd ed. 1648; Subtlety and the Art of Genius). In defiance of his superiors, he published pseudonymously El critic n (1651, 1653, 1657; The Critick), a three-part philosophical novel considered by the 19th-century German pessimistic philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer one of the most important books ever written. In it he examined society from the standpoint of a savage and gave the clearest statement of his pessimistic philosophy with its emphasis on willpower and struggle. (britannica.com)

In the Art of Worldly Wisdom Baltasar Gracian gives us pertinent and pithy advice on friendship leadership and success. Think of it as Machiavelli with a soul. This book is for those who wish to have an ambitious plan for success without compromising their integrity or losing their way. Audacious and captivating!

A Truth Telling Manual And The Art Of Worldly Wisdom: Being A Collection Of The Aphorisms Which Appear In The Works Of Baltasar Gracian is a book written by Baltasar Gracian, a Spanish Jesuit and baroque prose writer. The book is a compilation of aphorisms, or short and concise statements, that are drawn from Gracian's various works. The aphorisms are intended to provide practical advice on how to navigate the complexities of the world and achieve success in life. They cover a wide range of topics, including human nature, social relations, politics, and ethics. The book is divided into two parts: the first part is a truth telling manual that offers advice on how to live a truthful and honest life, while the second part is an art of worldly wisdom that provides guidance on how to navigate the world and achieve success. Overall, A Truth Telling Manual And The Art Of Worldly Wisdom is a timeless guide to living a meaningful and successful life.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Novela filos fica de Baltasar Graci n dividida y publicada en tres partes: En la primavera de la ni ez y en el est o de la juventud; Juiciosa cortesana filosof a, en el oto o de la varonil edad y En el invierno de la vejez. Tratado did ctico en un viaje aleg rico por la vida visto a trav s de Andrenio, que ignora su origen y su fin, y Critilo, que simboliza la raz n natural, la experiencia que busca intuitivamente la felicidad. Forman ambos, a trav s de las andanzas, siempre en relaci n con lo segundo. Cada una de las partes, subdivididas en peque os cap tulos, llamados crisis corresponden a las distintas edades del hombre: ni ez y juventud, la varonil edad y la vejez.

Baltasar Gracian was a Spanish Jesuit priest born in 1601, and was a recognized and sometimes controversial writer and clergyman during his lifetime. Gracian penetrating mind offers 300 short paragraphs of insights, reflections, and advice that would best be described as practical, straight forward, and bold. His deep understanding of human nature and his innate wisdom impelled Gracian to write not only to help people find the success they desired, but to transform people into better human beings.

Ni al justo leyes, ni al sabio consejos; pero ninguno supo bastantemente para sí. Una cosa me has de perdonar y otra agradecer: el llamar Oráculo a este epítome de aciertos del vivir, pues lo es en lo sentencioso y lo conciso; el ofrecerte de un rasgo todos los doce Gracianes, tan estimado cada uno, que El Discreto apenas se vio en España cuando se logró en Francia, traducido en su lengua e impreso en su Corte. Sirva éste de memorial a la razón en el banquete de sus sabios, en que registre los platos prudenciales que se le irán sirviendo en las demás obras para distribuir el gusto genialmente.

Or culo manual y arte de prudencia (1647) es una obra literaria perteneciente a la prosa did ctica de Baltasar Graci n en la que, a lo largo de trescientos aforismos comentados, se ofrece un conjunto de normas para triunfar en una sociedad compleja y en crisis, como lo era la del barroco, contempor nea a nuestro autor.

Alegoria prolongada o novela filosofica en que se mezclan narracion y doctrina, personajes y critica, simbolos y cultura. Esta edicion tiene como base la principe, cuyas tres partes se publicaron en 1651, 1653 y 1657. Tiene anotaciones que facilitan la comprension total de la obra.

Hacerse indispensable; tratar con quien se pueda aprender; ser hombre de agradable conversaci n; saber apartarse, saber adaptarse, saber esperar, saber negar; Saber valerse de los enemigos. El arte de la prudencia resume en trescientos aforismos comentados la sabidur a pr ctica necesaria para sobrevivir en una sociedad competitiva y hostil. El pensamiento de Baltasar Graci n, que influy en la Rochefoucauld, Schopenshauer y Nietzsche, y que hoy goza de plena vigencia, ha encontrado una excepcional acogida entre los lectores contempor neos.

Alegoria prolongada o novela filosofica en que se mezclan narracion y doctrina, personajes y critica, simbolos y cultura. Esta edicion tiene como base la principe, cuyas tres partes se publicaron en 1651, 1653 y 1657. Tiene anotaciones que facilitan la comprension total de la obra.

Baltasar Gracian y Morales assumed his final vows of the Jesuits in 1635, having been raised by his uncle, a priest, and studying theology in Zaragoza, Spain. Gracian became quite famous as a preacher, and wrote a number of literary works concerning politics, practical advice for life, and philosophy. Today he is known as the most representative writer of the Spanish baroque style called Conceptismo, or Conceptism, a literary style characterized by succinct and subtle expressions of witty, significant ideas. The Art of Worldly Wisdom is a collection of about three hundred maxims and advice with commentary. His poetic use of rhetoric made Gracian appealing to readers, but because he published much of his work without the permission of his superiors, he was chastised by the church, and eventually sanctioned and exiled. Gracian's most popular work, The Art of Worldly Wisdom, is presented here in an edition printed on premium acid-free paper following the translation of Joseph Jacobs.