Very few people would claim Baltasar Gracian was simple.  Maxim 13 is a very complex tightly woven strategic sentiment. This isn’t about philosophy per se, it is one of those sentiments that seems kind of Machiavellian or Sun-Tzu-ian. In a different translation than the free one that I use for the purpose of this blog …
Tag Archives: Book Discussion
The Art of Worldly Wisdom: 12
It has been sometime since I visited the core purpose of this blog – the continued exploration of Baltasar Gracian’s The Art of Worldly Wisdom. As a person who strongly believes philosophy plays a vital role in understanding our world, I rely heavily on the concept of ‘the state of nature’. In many ways I …
The Art of Worldly Wisdom: 10
If the ninth maxim Baltasar Gracian put forth is one of my favorites, the tenth gives me chills. Not in an elated way but in a fearful way. The tenth maxim speaks of the two things I seek and want the most, fortune and fame. One of the reasons why I like Baltasar Gracian is …
The Art of Worldly Wisdom: 9
Is it possible to love a maxim? It is quite possibly a silly thing, but I do really like this maxim. I am a patriot. I am an American in the truest sense of the word since I worship at the Temple of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Hamilton, …
The Art of Worldly Wisdom: 8
Many of Gracian’s maxims cause conflict in me and this one seems aimed at the core of my being. Passion, I believe, is what drives people to personal success. When you care about something to such an extent that it goes beyond a goal but is an emotion, the steps you need to take to …
The Art of Worldly Wisdom: 7
I won’t lie and say that I don’t struggle trying to interpret the seventh maxim. This maxim is the second one that feels manipulative and less than ethical in the modern sense of the word. I am not a person who is willing to sell myself short in order to gain advancement in life. I …