Quotes

“What life half gives a man, posterity gives entirely.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Music is either sacred or secular. The sacred agrees with its dignity, and here has its greatest effect on life, an effect that remains the same through all ages and epochs. Secular music should be cheerful throughout.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Know or listen to those who know.” Baltasar Gracian

“True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides its evils. Strive to have friends, for life without friends is like life on a desert island... to find one real friend in a lifetime is good fortune; to keep him is a blessing.” Baltasar Gracian

“A single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity.” Baltasar Gracian

“Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil.” Baltasar Gracian

“Don't show off every day, or you'll stop surprising people. There must always be some novelty left over. The person who displays a little more of it each day keeps up expectations, and no one ever discovers the limits of his talent.” Baltasar Gracian

“Never have a companion that casts you in the shade.” Baltasar Gracian

“Never do anything when you are in a temper, for you will do everything wrong.” Baltasar Gracian

“The wise does at once what the fool does at last.” Baltasar Gracian

“Respect yourself if you would have others respect you.” Baltasar Gracian

“Better mad with the rest of the world than wise alone.” Baltasar Gracian

“Dreams will get you nowhere, a good kick in the pants will take you a long way.” Baltasar Gracian

“Always leave something to wish for; otherwise you will be miserable from your very happiness.” Baltasar Gracian

“Fortunate people often have very favorable beginnings and very tragic endings. What matters isn't being applauded when you arrive - for that is common - but being missed when you leave.” Baltasar Gracian

“A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends.” 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 a nothing at all.” Baltasar Gracian

“Never contend with a man who has nothing to lose.” Baltasar Gracian

“It is better to sleep on things beforehand than lie awake about them afterwards.” Baltasar Gracian

“It is a great piece of skill to know how to guide your luck even while waiting for it.” 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

“Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with every new assignment.” Baltasar Gracian

“It is good to vary in order that you may frustrate the curious, especially those who envy you.” Baltasar Gracian

“Quit while you're ahead. All the best gamblers do.” Baltasar Gracian

“A beautiful woman should break her mirror early.” Baltasar Gracian

“Let the first impulse pass, wait for the second.” Baltasar Gracian

“A man of honour should never forget what he is because he sees what others are.” Baltasar Gracian

“Hope has a good memory, gratitude a bad one.” Baltasar Gracian

“Aspire rather to be a hero than merely appear one.” Baltasar Gracian

“Even knowledge has to be in the fashion, and where it is not, it is wise to affect ignorance.” Baltasar Gracian