Latest / The Philosophy Insights Collection / 24 - Heaven is Bliss, Hell is Misery - The Art of Worldly Wisdom - Baltasar Gracian
Transcript
- In heaven. All is bliss in hell, all misery on earth between the two, both one thing and the other. We stand between the two extremes, and therefore share both. Fate varies. All is not good luck nor all mischance. This world is merely zero. By itself, it is of no value. But with Heaven in front of it, it means much. Indifference at its ups and downs is prudent. Nor is there any novelty for the wise. Our life gets as complicated as a comedy as it goes on, but the complications get gradually resolved. See that the curtain comes down on a good denouement. Two hundred and twelve. Keep to yourself the final touches of your art. This is a maxim of the great masters, who pride themselves on this subtlety. In teaching their pupils. One must always remain superior, remain master. One must teach an art artfully. The source of knowledge need not be pointed out, no more than that of giving. By this means a man preserves the respect and the dependence of others. In amusing and teaching, you must keep to the rule, keep up expectation, and advance in perfection. To keep a reserve is a great rule for life and for success, especially for those in high place two hundred and thirteen. Know how to contradict a chief means of finding things out to embarrass others without being embarrassed. The true thumb screw. It brings the passions into play. Tepid incredulity acts as an emetic on secrets. It is the key to a locked up breast, and with great subtlety, makes a double trial of both mind and will. A slight appreciation of another's mysterious word sends out the profoundest secrets. Some sweet brings them into the mouth till they fall from the tongue and are caught in the net of astute deceit. By reserving your attention, the other becomes less attentive and lets his thoughts appear, while otherwise his heart were inscrutable. An affected doubt is the subtlest picklock that curiosity can use to find out what it wants to know. Also, in learning, it is a subtle plan of the pupil to contradict the master, who thereupon takes pains to explain the truth more thoroughly and with more force, so that a moderate contradiction produces complete instruction two hundred and fourteen. Do not turn one blunder into two. It is quite usual to commit four others in order to remedy one, or to excuse one piece of impertinence by still another. Folly is either related to or identical with the family of lies, for in both cases it needs many to support one. The worst of a bad case is having to fight it, and worse than the ill itself is not being able to conceal it. The annuity of one failing serves to support many others. A wise man may make one slip, but never two, and that only in running, not while standing still. Two hundred and fifteen. Watch him that acts on second thoughts. It is a device of business men to put the opponent off his guard before attacking him, and thus to conquer by being defeated. They dissemble their desire so as to attain it. They put themselves second, so as to come out first in the final spurt. This method rarely fails if it is not noticed. Let Therefore the attention never sleep when the intention is so wide awake. And if the other puts himself second so to hide his plan, put yourself first to discover it. Prudence can discern the artifices which such a man uses, and notices the pretext he puts forward to gain his ends. He aims at one thing to get another. Then he turns around smartly and fires straight at his target. It is well to know what you grant him, and at times it is desirable to give him to understand that you understand two hundred and sixteen. Be expressive. This depends not only on the clearness, but also the vivacity of your thoughts. Some have an easy conception, but a hard labor, for without clearness, the children of the mind, thoughts and judgments cannot be brought into the world. Many have a capacity like that of vessels with a large mouth and a small vent. Others, again say more than they think. Resolution for the will, expression for the thought two great gifts. Plausible minds are applauded, yet confused ones are are often venerated just because they are not understood, And at times obscurity is convenient if you wish to avoid vulgarity. Yet how shall the audience understand one that connects no definite idea with what he says? Two hundred and seventeen. Neither love nor hate forever. Trust the friends of today as if they will be enemies tomorrow, and that of the worst kind. As this happens in reality, let it happen in your precaution. Do not put weapons in the hand for deserters from friendship to wage warwith. On the other hand, leave the door of reconciliation open for enemies. And if it is also the gait of generosity, so much the more safe. The vengeance of long ago is at times the torment of today, and the joy over the ill we have done is turned to grief two hundred and eighteen. Never act from obstinacy, but from knowledge. All obstinacy is an excrescence of the mind, a grandchild of passion, which never did anything right. There are persons who make a war out of everything real banditti of intercourse. All that they undertake must end in victory. They do not know how to get on in peace. Such men are fatal when they rule and govern, for they make government, rebellion and enemies out of those whom they ought to regard as children. They try to affect everything with strategy and treat it as the fruit of their skill. But when others have recognized their perverse humor. All revolt against them and learn to overturn their chimerical plans. And they succeed in nothing, but only heap up a mass of troubles. Since everything serves to increase their disappointment. They have a head turned and a heart spoilt. Nothing can be done with such monsters except to flee from them, even to the antipodes, where the savagery is easier to bear than their Loathsome nature two hundred nineteen do not pass for a hypocrite, though such men are indispensable nowadays, be considered rather prudent than astute. Sincerity in behavior pleases all, though not all can show it in their own affairs. Sincerity should not degenerate into simplicity, nor sagacity into cunning. Be rather respected as wise than feared as sly. The open hearted are loved but deceived. The great art consists in disclosing what is thought to be deceit. In the Golden age, simplicity flourished in these days of iron cunning. The reputation of being a man who knows what he has to do is honorable and inspires confidence. But to be considered a hypocrite is deceptive and arouses mistrust two hundred twenty. If you cannot clothe yourself in lion skin, use fox pelt. To follow the times is to lead them. He that gets what he wants never loses his reputation cleverness. When force will not do one way or another, the king's highway of valor or the by path of cunning, skill has effected more than force, and as stuteness has conquered courage more often than the other way. When you cannot get a thing, then is the time to despise it. End of Section twenty four.