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    The Art of Worldly Wisdom
    The Art of Worldly Wisdom
    The Art of Worldly Wisdom
    Ebook346 pages3 hours

    The Art of Worldly Wisdom

    By Baltasar Gracian and Joseph Jacobs

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    About this ebook

    "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. Published in 1637, it was an instant success throughout Europe. The Jesuit 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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDover Publications
    Release dateMay 24, 2012
    ISBN9780486146775

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    Reviews for The Art of Worldly Wisdom

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    • 3/5
      300 voorschriften over de omgang met anderen mensen, verrassend modernTyperend: amoraal, onchristelijk, cynisch. Publiek van hovelingen, hoge officieren en politici; Ook wel de Machiavelli van de menselijke betrekkingen genoemd; Sterk defensieve instelling:voorzichtigheid primeert op alles; Geen integrale vertaling.
    • 3/5
      300 voorschriften over de omgang met anderen mensen, verrassend modernTyperend: amoraal, onchristelijk, cynisch. Publiek van hovelingen, hoge officieren en politici; Ook wel de Machiavelli van de menselijke betrekkingen genoemd; Sterk defensieve instelling:voorzichtigheid primeert op alles; Geen integrale vertaling.
    • 4/5
      In diesem Buch geht es nicht etwa, wie der Titel vermuten lässt, um Handlesekunst. Vielmehr handelt es sich um eine Sammlung von Aphorismen aus dem Werk des spanischen Theologen und Philosophen Baltasar Gracián. Der Jesuit hat im siebzehnten Jahrhundert gelebt. Sein „Handorakel“ gibt dem Leser eine Anleitung zum guten Leben an die Hand, ganz ähnlich den zahlreichen Ratgeberbüchern, die heutzutage in Umlauf gebracht werden. Es ist nicht zu übersehen, dass Gracián große Weisheit und Lebenserfahrung besessen hat. Obwohl Gracián Jesuit war, scheinen manche seiner Aussagen direkt der Weisheit des Zen zu entstammen. Andererseits jedoch können viele seiner Erkenntnisse nur als Allgemeinplätze angesehen werden. Die Widersprüchlichkeit von Gracián verwundert ganz außerordentlich: Auf der einen Seite berührt er durch die Tiefe seiner Gedanken, auf der anderen Seite schockiert er den Leser durch Ratschläge, wie man seine Mitmenschen am besten ausnutzt und manipuliert. Insofern ist Graciáns Schlussfolgerung auf der letzten Seite geradezu kurios: Man solle einfach nur immer tugendhaft leben, dann würde man unweigerlich zu einem Heiligen werden. Es reizt wirklich zum Lachen, dass Gracián nach all seinen Aufforderungen, so berechnend wie möglich zu sein, von Tugenden spricht. Worauf er ferner großen Wert legt, ist die Anwendung von Vernunft und Klugheit im Leben. In dieser Hinsicht wiederum kann man ihm nur voll zustimmen. Etwas schade am „Handorakel“ sind die zahlreichen, teilweise auch sinnentstellenden Druckfehler. Andererseits ist das „Handorakel“, allein schon wegen Graciáns sprachlicher Eleganz, ein intellektueller Lesegenuss.
    • 5/5
      This collection of aphorisms rivals the wisdom found in Machiavelli's The Prince or Sun-Tzu's The Art of War. However this is significantly less well-known than the other two.Gracian was a Jesuit scholar who wrote down his observations of those in power. His study of statesmen and potentates demonstrates examples of their ethical behavior and worldly effectiveness. I found the many of the maxims useful insights into a humane way of living and achieving a flourishing life.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      In a way, I'm glad that I got some of these philosophy books, (what I mean is, that I got some of them, back whenever I got them), although some of them-- like Descartes-- I discarded almost upon opening. (I mean, I was perfectly capable of talking about Descartes 'intelligently' in school-- using Cartesian terms correctly-- but of course in my own home, I could see what a waste it all was.... as though the book itself, when opened, gave off a smell of rotten fish which someone forgot to salt or something.... "To overvalue something is a form of lying." I mean, yeah, like with that video game that I used to think was the best think ever put together by mortal man-- "Wipe this pathetic planet off the face of the galaxy....")And so, here again I have another one of these 17th-century disappointments.... I mean, I hate to make historical comment, but I honestly only mean it in a sociological way, since so many people are all so much the same-- just as the later 19th century had so much, though of all the wrong things, the 17th century had either nothing, or so much, of nothing.... while the 18th was intolerable a mere 19 times out of 20, that's all, ha! So, there's that, I suppose. But at least we have a stupid Spaniard for all those stupid Greeks and Germans.... "We do not destroy religion by destroying superstition." ~ M.T.C. Although we can only guess what the Jesuit would think of my namesake.... {But the fact that Spanish words are vaguely like Latin words will always be a source of endless delight to all thinking people-- although what I really liked (past perfect, hon-hon-hon: I am Swedish!) was something far more obscure than Spanish, although windmill-fighter Spanish, ("It's a ceiling fan." "It's a whirling, five-armed monster!") *is* obscure, but *Catalan*, is minoritarian, and only something that a real elitist would have even *heard* of, and what's even better are those tabels, of equivalent words in Romance and Germanic languages, or better yet, one of those tables where the equivalent words descended from one Latin word, like British imperial way-stations, are maped out in, say, five to seven daughter languages, I used to really love that-- hours and hours of delight, just like cribbage, or German whist, which I've discovered (just today) that you can actually play with yourself, just in case it's easier to cobble together patience, than three friends! ^^}Anyway. I'll try not to bore you too much. He wants me to think that he is good for an aphorism, that he, like Nietzsche, has a mind for it, you know, that he has no need for the dross, that he has a sharp mind, and unburdened too, and perhaps with a flash of worldly intuition.... and that he is also wise like Epictetus, ever quiet, and perhaps also sharing a little joke, softly, with his misfortune, without saying hardly anything.... But he is not Nietzsche, and he is not Epictetus, and I actually don't think that he's even so wise as Hoyle. Or, perhaps you would prefer, Wolfgangus Theophilus Amadeus Mozartian. ^^ (Or Mary Bennet, who was wretchedly unhappy because she was unable to play the piano with any kind of skill.... yes, because she could not play the piano and get other people to like her that way, she was, wretchedly unhappy. But.... well, whatever. Who cares. Who cares about that. ^^) To be honest, this is sorta how I feel about Shakespeare-- imagine what a blessing Shakespeare was to the 17th century! After all, it's not as though *they* could go see "The Magic Flute"!.... {And anyway, I didn't find any that I liked so well as-- "What we cannot speak about, we must pass over in silence"!} {To be honest, I was waiting for him to say, 'Vanity and pride are not the same, although the words are used interchangeably.'} {.... "Even God does not tame with a whip, but with time." What does that mean? " 'Lie down on the couch.' 'What does that mean?'..... 'The Baltimore County School Board have decided to expel Dexter from the entire public school system.'.... 'That boy needs therapy.'.... 'This is like free therapy. New York State cares.'} {.... I mean, the guy has a fucking cluttered way of thinking, if you ask me....}{"One who enters the house of fortune through the gate of pleasure leaves it through the (door) of sorrow.".... "Sometimes a parrot talks.".... "Kavorka, Jerry-- the lure of the animal!"} {"Mediocrities are not the subject of applause.... Work with good tools...." Even the king of Finland knows that a hearty breakfast is the most important meal of the day.}{"Good to be a bit vague...." Just bullshit a bit-- it'll be fine....} (7/10)
    • 5/5
      The Jesuit scholar Balrasar Gracian wrote these aphorisms over three centuries ago. His position allowed him to be a keen observer of many in positions of power. And his writing can be used today as it was in his time in business, politics, and life in general. The author shares his wisdom on how to live a life with others. His writings advise the reader on many of life’s situations and on personal interactions. Whether considered a work on philosophy or behavioral science this book is one which the reader will refer too often. There is no need to read the book straight through from cover to cover but once. For in the back of this volume you will find a list of the aphorisms where you can go to the one that you feel would be appropriate to your situation and help with some valuable insight.
    • 3/5
      Gracian's The Art of Worldly of Wisdom is interesting. It definitely has some gems in it. For example, "...Virtue alone is sufficient unto itself: and it, only, makes a man worth loving life, and in death, remembering."

    Book preview

    The Art of Worldly Wisdom - Baltasar Gracian

    86.

    To the Reader

    No laws for the just, no counsels for the wise. Yet no one ever knew as much as he had need. One thing you must forgive, another, thank me for. I have called this manual of worldly wisdom an Oracle, for it is one in curtness and sententiousness. On the other hand, I offer you in one all the twelve works of Gracian. Each of these is so highly thought of that his Prudent Man had scarcely appeared in Spain than it was enjoyed among the French, in whose language it was translated and at whose court it was printed. May this be Wisdom’s bill of fare at the banquet of her sages, in which she inscribes the items of the feast of reason to be found in Gracian’s other works.

    DON VINCENCIO JUAN DE LASTANOSA.

    i Everything is at its Acme;

    especially the art of making one’s way in the world. There is more required nowadays to make a single wise man than formerly to make Seven Sages, and more is needed nowadays to deal with a single person than was required with a whole people in former times.

    ii Character and Intellect:

    the two poles of our capacity; one without the other is but halfway to happiness. Intellect sufficeth not, character is also needed. On the other hand, it is the fool’s misfortune to fail in obtaining the position, the employment, the neighbourhood, and the circle of friends that suit him.

    iii Keep Matters for a Time in Suspense.

    Admiration at their novelty heightens the value of your achievements. It is both useless and insipid to play with the cards on the table. If you do not declare yourself immediately, you arouse expectation, especially when the importance of your position makes you the object of general attention. Mix a little mystery with everything, and the very mystery arouses veneration. And when you explain, be not too explicit, just as you do not expose your inmost thoughts in ordinary intercourse. Cautious silence is the holy of holies of worldly wisdom. A resolution declared is never highly thought of; it only leaves room for criticism. And if it happens to fail, you are doubly unfortunate. Besides you imitate the Divine way when you cause men to wonder and watch.

    iv Knowledge and Courage

    are the elements of Greatness. They give immortality, because they are immortal. Each is as much as he knows, and the wise can do anything. A man without knowledge, a world without light. Wisdom and strength, eyes and hands. Knowledge without courage is

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