Gracián - El Arte de Prudencia

1 Peak of perfection	14 Reality and the manner	27 Paying with intensity	40 Grace of the people
2 Genius and Ingenuity	15 Surrounding oneself	28 In nothing common	41 Never exaggerate
3 Affairs in private	16 Knowledge and intentions	29 Person of integrity	42 Talent to command
4 Knowledge and courage	17 Tone of your actions	30 Unauthorized work	43 Feeling with the few
5 Make others depend	18 Application and Minerva	31 Blessed and cursed	44 Comraderie
6 Person in top form	19 Entering expectations	32 Known for pleasing	45 Hidden intentions
7 Defeating your superior	20 Man in his century	33 Put things aside	46 Correct antipathy
8 Dispassionate man	21 Art for being fortunate	34 Your best quality	47 Stubborn mindsets
9 Your nation's defects	22 Person of plausible news	35 Making conceptions	48 Man of depth
10 Fortune and fame	23 Having no blemish	36 Luck calculated	49 Observant man
11 Those to learn from	24 Tempering imagination	37 Using insinuations	50 Respect for self
12 Nature and art	25 Of sound understanding	38 Knowing to quit	Bottom of page
13 Reacting to intentions	26 Finding the turning point	39 Things at their best	Home

Al lector

1Ni al justo leyes, ni al sabio consejos; 2pero ninguno supo bastantemente para sí. 3Una cosa me has de perdonar y otra agradecer: 4el llamar Oráculo a este epítome de aciertos del vivir, pues lo es en lo sentencioso y lo conciso; 5el ofrecerte de un rasgo todos los doze Gracianes, tan estimado cada uno, 6que El Discreto apenas se vio en Espańa quando se logró en Francia, traduzido en su lengua y impresso en su Corte. 7Sirva éste de memorial a la razón en el banquete de sus sabios, 8en que registre los platos prudenciales que se le irán sirviendo en las demás obras para distribuir el gusto genialmente.

To the reader

1Neither laws to the just, nor counsel to the wise; 2but no one knows enough to suit oneself. 3One thing you must forgive me and for another thank me: 4giving the name of Oráculo to this epitome of good ideas for living, for it is in its sententiousness and conciseness; 5offering you all at once all twelve Gracians, each so appreciated, 6that El Discreto had scarcely been seen in Spain when it was being enjoyed in France, translated into its language and printed in its court. 7May this one serve as a memorial to reason in the banquet of its wise, 8which will include the prudential dishes that will continue to be served in other works so as to pleasantly distribute the taste.

Comment Only Walton translates this little prologue, but he erroneously credits it to D. Vincencio Juan de Lastanosa, who was the publisher. It also bears noting that some reproductions do not include it.

2 pero ninguno supo bastantemente para sí - from a refrain, nadie es sabio para sí, sea consejero de reyes/no one is wise for himself, be him counselor to kings.

Most men have the face they deserve. 5 los doze Gracianes - Gracián did not publish 12 books, hence scholars are puzzled by this reference. Romera-Navarro gets at 12 by counting El Criticon three times (it was published in three parts at three separate times) and including the Oráculo. Blanco suggests that Eugenio Asensio is probably more correct in observing that Gracián was referring to works that he had either started, completed, or was in the process of writing. It is also believed that some of Gracian's works may have been lost.

6 Romera-Navarro points out that El Héroe had been published in France at this time (1645) but that El Discreto had not.

7 memorial - a book or notebook on which notes were taken.

7 banquete de sus sabios - perhaps an allusion to Plutarch's Banquet of the Seven Wise Men. Or perhas Plato.

8 genialmente - Romera-Navarro suggests that this should be understood as "pleasantly," but Blanco believes that this may be better understood in a more literal sense, según el genero o condicion de cada uno/according to the type or condition of each person.

Todo está ya en su punto, y el ser persona en el mayor. 1Más se requiere hoi para un sabio que antiguamente para siete; 2y más es menester para tratar con un solo hombre en estos tiempos que con todo un pueblo en los passados.

Everything is already at its peak of perfection, and being a person is at the highest. 1More is required today of one wise man than was required in ancient times of seven; 2and more is required to deal with one individual in these times than was required to deal with an entire nation in times past.

The times demand more of us than ever,
but we must rise to the challenge and become the best person we can.

Title We begin the Oráculo with one of Gracián's most difficult phrases to translate. Todo está ya en su punto challenges translation because it basks in the complexity and ambiguity that surrounds the phrase en su punto. Typically, en su punto (literally "at its point") is understood to mean "in its perfection" (a paella should be eaten en su punto). Todo está ya en su punto speaks to the idea that the meaning of a thing lies in its completeness (sin sobra ni falta/nothing extra, nothing lacking, ), as this is its perfection. Morena-Navarro explains that en el aforismo 6 de este libro y en el capítulo XVII del Discreto claramente expresa Gracián que estar en su punto significa "estar en su punto de perfección"/in aphorism 6 of this book and in chapter XVII of El Discreto, Gracián clearly expresses that estar en su punto means "to be at the point of perfection." By adding the word ya (the recent indefinite past; "already") to this phrase, Gracián may have meant that "everything is now in its perfection," but that need not be the case. Fischer translates the phrase as "everything today has its point" (problematic because "has" would be tiene whereas Gracián writes está/is—moreover, this is a fine example of a literal translation for punto not being accurate); Jacobs opts for "everything is at its Acme" (which, although it works, brings forth thoughts of Warner Brothers cartoons); Lockley uses "everything, now, is at its peak"; Maurer prefers "all has reached perfection." Savage is very close with "Every thing is now at the point of its perfection," but he assumes that ya is being meant as "now" rather than as "already." Walton seems to me right with "Everything has already reached its peak of perfection," but nothing is actually being "reached" in Gracián's phrase. Rather, everything already "is."

Title For Gracián, the concept of persona is imbued with notions of authenticity, moral bearing, excellence, sound judgment (saintliness). An enlightened individual. Maslow captured this idea well in his description of a self-actualized individual, as did Carl Rogers in his book, Becoming a Person.

1 Gracián refers to the Seven Wise Men of Greece, a list of men drawn from among the outstanding politicians and political philosophers of ancient Greece. Although such listings differ widely, a typical one includes Bias, Chilon, Cleobulus, Periander, Pittacus, Solon, and Thales.

Genio y Ingenio. 1Los dos exes del lucimiento de prendas: el uno sin el otro, felicidad a medias. 2No basta lo entendido, deséase lo genial. 3Infelicidad de necio: errar la vocación en el estado, empleo, región, familiaridad.

Genius and Ingenuity. 1The two poles on which qualities shine: one without the other, happiness in halves. 2The understood is not enough, brilliance is required. 3A fool's sorrow: to err his vocation in his condition, employment, domicile, circle of friends.

Be an ingenious genius.

Title - on Genio Much has been written about what Gracián meant by genio y ingenio. Blanco writes that Gracián entiende por genio la inclinación y disposición particular/Gracian understood genio to be one's particular inclination and disposition. This sounds to me very much like the very essence of a person's "character," "personality," or "temperament." Jorge Ayala suggests that genio is la entidad sustancial, el sustrato energético que da lugar a lo que modernamente entendemos por genial/the substantial essence, the energetic substrata that leads to what we currently understand as brilliant/terrific/wonderful. In this sense, genio would be understood as a person's "essence" that leads to "brilliance."

Title - on Ingenio Blanco suggests that by ingenio Gracián meant "a natural force of understanding (force of mind), the investigator of what, which by force or discourse, can be reached in all type of sciences and disciplines, liberal and mechanical arts, subtleties, inventions and deceptions" (p. 101). According to Victor Bouillier, in the Oráculo and El Discreto, el ingenio engloba diversas cualidades—naturales o adquiridas—del entendimiento o la inteligencia, como juicio, razonamiento, habilidad práctica y conocimientos variados/ingenuity encompasses various qualities—natural or acquired—of understanding or intelligence, such as judgment, reasoning, practical ability, and various forms of knowledge. Ayala observes that ingenio sólo se deja aprender por los actos de su agilidad/permits itself to learn only by acts of its own agility. So what do you think: acumen, aptitude, discernment, intellect, mind, perception, sagacity, savvy, understanding, wit? Ingenuity?

More on the Title Let's see what others do with these. Savage translates them as "wit and genius" (but I believe he transposes them purposely); Walton also selects "genius and wit"; Jacobs and Eisenschiml prefer "character and intellect"; Lockley goes with "personality and intellect"; Fischer uses "mind and spirit"; Maurer chooses "character and intelligence." My guess is that Eisenschiml simply went along with Jacobs without examining the matter closely. If one follows the guidance of Spanish scholars, it seems that genio should be translated as "personality" or "character" (understood as the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual, but without the moral excellence that the word "character" often carries). Ingenio may be "intellect," but Ayala comes close to "ingenuity."

My take on the Matter I can't help thinking that Savage, writing 300 years ago and being privy to scholars of the time, may have gotten it right (if backwards). Here is what he writes: "Father Bouhours, in his Conversations (Entretiens) of Ariste and Eugene, renders the Spanish words thus: Genius and Wit are the two principal causes of the elevation and Glory of a Great Man." In other words, Gracián may well have meant precisely what he wrote: genius and ingenuity (which is very close to Fischer's translation of "mind and spirit"). It bears noting that there are perfectly good and oft-used Spanish words with which to denote character, personality, and intellect. Let's examine the two words in the context of the aphorism itself and see what fruit that bears. First, we are only partly happy if we have one without the other. It would indeed be sad if we had personality without intellect, but what would an intellect without a personality look like? Poor or stellar, everyone has a personality, a character. Second, it is not enough to understand things, brilliance is required. How would this relate to personality? On the other hand (and this seems to me the key), all the knowledge (lo entendido) in the world will be useless without the ingenuity or inventiveness (lo genial) to make use of that knowledge. Both translations can be used to serve the phrase that fools err by mistaking their place in life. So, on the strength of three out of three, I'm siding with Savage, Fischer, and Walton but improving them by going for "genius and ingenuity," as it seems more satisfying and appropriate. But aren't you glad to have the full scoop on the matter? And we're just getting started !

1 lucimiento de prendas means something akin to "brilliance of qualities/gifts." Lucimiento also includes "displaying" or "showing off" (in a positive sense). Its infinitive is lucir/to shine. One luce when one succeeds admirably. Fischer translates lucimiento de prendas as "the firmament of our faculties" (rather a strech); Maurer prefers "the poles your talent depends on, displaying your gifts" (fine, but wordy); Jacobs simply selects "capacity"; Fischer goes for "the firmament of our faculties" (couldn't you have guessed?); Lockley selects "qualities"; Walton likes "natural gifts." "The two axes of the brilliance of our qualities" would also do this phrase justice.

2 deséase - literally, "is desired"

3 estado - From the Academia Real: situación en que se encuentra alguien o algo, y en especial cada uno de sus sucesivos modos de ser o estar/situation in which one finds oneself, and especially each successive mode of being. It does not precisely mean "status" as that term is commonly understood in English. Rather, it is "a state of being." For example, Gracián alludes to the fact that one may err in his choice of marital state or even in how one is feeling about oneself. In some ways, "condition," "position," and "situation" are more faithful translations.

Llevar sus cosas con suspensión. 1La admiración de la novedad es estimación de los aciertos. 2El jugar a juego descubierto ni es de utilidad ni de gusto. 3El no declararse luego suspende, y más donde la sublimidad del empleo da objecto a la universal expectación; 4amaga misterio en todo, y con su misma arcanidad provoca la veneración. 5Aun en el darse a entender se ha de huir la llaneza, assí como ni en el trato se ha de permitir el interior a todos. 6Es el recatado silencio sagrado de la cordura. 7La resolución declarada nunca fue estimada; antes se permite a la censura, y si saliere azar, será dos vezes infeliz. 8Imítese, pues, el proceder divino para hazer estar a la mira y al desvelo.

Managing your affairs in private. 1Admiration for novelty is how success is measured. 2Playing with an open hand is neither useful nor tasteful. 3Not declaring yourself immediately creates suspense, and more where the loftiness of your position gives cause to the universal expectation; 4shroud everything in mystery, and with the same mystery provoke veneration. 5Even when making yourself understood should you flee from clarity, just as not even in social discourse should the interior be privy to everyone. 6Prudence is made sacred by cautious silence. 7A resolution openly declared was never appreciated; it opens itself to censure, and, if things turn out badly, you will be twice unhappy. 8Imitate, then, divine conduct if you wish preparation and vigilance to remain with you.

Be a private person.

7 censura - "criticism" is possibly a better choice.

8 A la mira y al desvelo is typically translated as prevenido y vigilante.

Hazer depender. 1No haze el numen el que lo dora, sino el que lo adora: 2el sagaz más quiere necessitados de sí que agradecidos. 3Es robarle a la esperança cortés fiar del agradecimiento villano, 4que lo que aquélla es memoriosa es éste olvidadizo. 5Más se saca de la dependencia que de la cortesía: 6buelve luego las espaldas a la fuente el satisfecho, y la naranja esprimida cae del oro al lodo. 7Acabada la dependencia, acaba la correspondencia, y con ella la estimación. 8Sea lición, y de prima en experiencia, entretenerla, no satisfazerla, 9conservando siempre en necessidad de sí aun al coronado patrón; 10pero no se ha de regar al excesso de callar para que yerre, ni hazer incurable el dańo ageno por el provecho proprio.

Making others depend on you. 1The image is not made sacred by those who adorn it, but by those who adore it: 2the wise man better prefers those who need him than those who are grateful to him. 3To trust vile gratitude is to rob gracious hope, 4for, as hope remembers, gratitude forgets. 5More is gained from fostering dependence than from receiving courtesy; 6a man whose thirst is satisfied soon turns his back on the well, and a squeezed orange turns from gold to mud. 7When dependence ends, the relationship ends, and so does the respect. 8Let it be the first lesson of life to keep others dependent, and never satisfy that dependence, 9keeping always in need of you even those with the greatest power; 10but do not err as a result of excessive silence, nor permit that irreparable harm come to others for your own benefit.

Be indispensable.
But not at the cost of hurting others.

1 numen - a god worshipped by gentiles.

6 del oro al lodo (from gold to mud) is a play on words; the orange, once squeezed, goes from a golden platter to the trash.

8 lición is lesson; lición de prima was the lesson that was taught in university classes during the first three hours of the day.

9 coronado patrón is a supervisor/boss of royal blood; the king; hence, even the king should have need of you.

Hombre en su punto. 1No se nace hecho: vase de cada día perficionando en la persona, en el empleo, 2hasta llegar al punto del consumado ser, al complemento de prendas, de eminencias. 3Conocerse ha en lo realçado del gusto, purificado del ingenio, en lo maduro del juizio, en lo defecado de la voluntad. 4Algunos nunca llegan a ser cabales, fáltales siempre un algo; tardan otros en hazerse. 5El varón consumado, sabio en dichos, cuerdo en hechos, es admitido y aun deseado del singular comercio de los discretos.

A person in top form. 1We are not born finished; each day we perfect ourselves personally and professionally, 2until we become a consumate being, accompanied by our qualities, and our eminence. 3Known by our refinement of taste, purity of intellect, maturity of judgment, clarity of will. 4Some never become complete, something is always lacking; others are slow in developing. 5The consumate individual, wise in speech, sensible in deed, is admitted to, and even desired by, the extraordinary camaraderie of discreet people.

You are a work in progress.
Keep working at it.

Title Here, the invididual is asked to strive to be en su punto. As you saw in the first aphorism, en su punto/in its point or in its peak is understood to mean "in its perfection." The phrase also alludes to completeness, fullness, at one's best, in one's prime.

3 realçado - from the Portuguese, enhanced, elevated.

3 Gracián will allude to the term gusto no fewer than 59 times. In The Enlightened Eye, Elliot Eisner refers to the "refinement of taste" as a key element of enlightment.

3 defecado - in this context, depurado, clean, pure. See Asun, p. 144.

5 singular is meant as extraordinary, rare, and excellent.

5 By comercio, Gracián refers to camaraderie, communication among individuals, the comings and goings of men.

Escusar vitorias del patrón. 1Todo vencimiento es odioso, y del dueńo, o necio, o fatal. 2Siempre la superioridad fue aborrecida, ˇquánto más de la misma superioridad! 3Ventajas vulgares suele disimular la atención, como desmentir la velleza con el desalińo. 4Bien se hallará quien quiera ceder en la dicha, y en el genio; pero en el ingenio, ninguno, ˇquánto menos una soberanía! 5Es éste el atributo rei, y assí qualquier crimen contra él fue de lessa magestad. 6Son soberanos, y quieren serlo en lo que es más. 7Gustan de ser ayudados los príncipes, pero no excedidos, 8y que el aviso haga antes viso de recuerdo de lo que olvidava que de luz de lo que no alcançó. 9Enséńannos esta sutileza los Astros con dicha, que aunque hijos, y brillantes, nunca se atreven a los lucimientos del Sol.

Not defeating your superior. 1Defeat is odious, and defeating your superior is either foolish or fatal. 2Superiority has always been abhorred, especially by superiors! 3Some advantages can be disguised, such as cloaking beauty with slovenliness. 4There may well be those who do not mind being surpassed in good fortune or in character, but, in intellect, no one, least of all a superior. 5This is the ultimate attribute, and any crime against it is no less than lčse-majesté. 6They are in charge, and wish to be so in what matters most. 7Superiors like being helped, but not surpassed, 8and that the advise be cloaked as a reminder of something they forgot, not as a light they cannot see. 9The stars teach us this subtlety. Although his children, and brilliant, the stars never dare outshine the Sun.

Handle your boss skillfully.

Title Escusar vitorias del patrón - evitar vencer al patrón o superior/avoid defeating your boss or superior (Santa Marina, p. 144).

Title A patrón is a "superior." The invididual in charge. The boss. In this passage, Gracián makes allusions to sovereignty as patrones.

Hombre inapassionable, 1prenda de la mayor alteza de ánimo. 2Su misma superioridad le redime de la sugeción a peregrinas vulgares impressiones. 3No ai mayor seńorío que el de sí mismo, de sus afectos, que llega a ser triunfo del alvedrío. 4Y quando la passión ocupare lo personal, no se atreva al oficio, y menos quanto fuere más: 5culto modo de aorrar disgustos, y aun de atajar para la reputación.

Dispassionate man, 1mark of the highest quality of spirit. 2His very superiority keeps him from being subject to arbitrary and vulgar impressions. 3There is no greater mastery than of one's self, of one's impulses, which becomes the triumph of free will. 4And while passion occupies your person, stay away from work, especially if your post is high; 5a wise way to avoid troubles, and also to maintain your reputation.

Keep your passions in check. Especially at work.

3 No ai mayor seńorío que el de sí mismo follows Seneca's injunction that the test of greatness lies in self-dominance.

3 afectos, literally "affectations," can also be "passions."

Desmentir los achaques de su nación. 1Participa el agua las calidades buenas o malas de las venas por donde passa, y el hombre las del clima donde nace. 2Deven más unos que otros a sus patrias, que cupo allí más favorable el Cenid. 3No ai nación que se escape de algún original defecto: aun las más cultas, que luego censuran los confinantes, o para cautela, o para consuelo. 4Vitoriosa destreza corregir, o por lo menos desmentir estos nacionales desdoros: 5consíguese el plausible crédito de único entre los suyos, que lo que menos se esperava se estimó más. 6Ai también achaques de la prosapia, del estado, del empleo y de la edad, 7que si coinciden todos en un sugeto y con la atención no se previenen, hazen un monstro intolerable.

Avoiding your nation's defects. 1Water shares the good or bad qualities of the earth through which it passes, and man of the climate into which he is born. 2Some owe more than others to their nation, they were born under clearer skies. 3Not even the most cultured of nations can avoid an innate defect, which other nations quickly criticize, either for caution or for consolation. 4It is a triumph of skill to correct, or at least to overlook, these national faults: 5you will be thought unique among your countrymen, for what is least is expected is most valued. 6There are defects also due to ancestry, to condition, to occupation, and to age, 7which if they come together in one person and with attention are not prevented, create an intolerable monster.

Help correct your country's flaws.

Title Asun restates desmentir los achaques as disimular los vicios/overlook the vices (p. 145). Most translators prefer the idea of "avoiding" the defects or faults of your country, particularly given Gracián's advice.

In this sense, prevenir is conocer con anticipación/to know with anticipation, foresee.

Fortuna y Fama. 1Lo que tiene de inconstante la una, tiene de firme la otra. 2La primera para vivir, la segunda para después; aquélla contra la invidia, ésta contra el olvido. 3La fortuna se desea y tal vez se ayuda, la fama se diligencia; deseo de reputación nace de la virtud. 4Fue, y es hermana de Gigantes la Fama; anda siempre por estremos, o monstros, o prodigios, de abominación, de aplauso.

Fortune and Fame. 1What is inconstant in one is firm in the other. 2The first for life, the second for the afterlife; the former against envy, the latter against oblivion. 3Fortune is desired and at times nurtured, fame is earned; a desire for reputation is born of virtue. 4Fame was and is sister to the Giants; always wonders in extremes, either monsters or prodigies, either abomination or applause.

Fortune or fame? Both would be nice.
[You gotta love this Jesuit.]

3 By diligencia, Gracián meant to solicit and make the effort required to obtain a particular end.

4 In Spanish, an especially famous individual is often referred to as a monstruo (e.g., Humphrey Bogart es un monstruo del cine). It need not have a negative connotation.

Tratar con quien se pueda aprender. 1Sea el amigable trato escuela de erudición, y la conversación, enseńança culta; 2un hazer de los amigos maestros, penetrando el útil del aprender con el gusto del conversar. 3Altérnase la fruición con los entendidos, logrando lo que se dize en el aplauso con que se recibe, 4y lo que se oye en el amaestramiento. 5Ordinariamente nos lleva a otro la propria conveniencia, aquí realçada. 6Freqüenta el atento las casas de aquellos Héroes Cortesanos, que son más teatros de la Heroicidad que palacios de la vanidad. 7Ai Seńores acreditados de discretos que, a más de ser ellos oráculos de toda grandeza con su exemplo y en su trato, 8el cortejo de los que los assisten es una Cortesana Academia de toda buena y galante discreción.

Being with those you can learn from. 1Let an amicable exchange be education, and conversation a cultured education; 2make teachers of your friends, mixing the usefulness of learning with the joy of conversation. 3Alternate these pleasures with your intimates, receiving applause for what you say, 4and instruction for what you hear. 5We are ordinarily drawn to others by our own interest, but here that interest is enhanced. 6The prudent and attentive frequent the homes of noble men, which are more theaters of nobility than palaces of vanity. 7There are men affluent in wit who, in addition to being oracles of greatness in manner and deed, 8are accompanied by an entourage who form an Academy of good and gallant discretion.

Learn from everyone.

3 fruición - gozo del bien que se posee/delight in how well something is possessed (Blanco, p. 107).

6 For Gracián, atento is typically synonymous with "prudent" (a prudent invididual must always be attentive), but in this case it also carries the meaning of "attentive."

8 discreción has special meaning for Gracián, who likens it to sensatez, tacto e ingenio, en las palabras y en las obras/sensitivity, tact and ingenuinty, in word and deed (Blanco, p. 107).

Obrar de intención, ya segunda, y ya primera. 1Milicia es la vida del hombre contra la malicia del hombre, pelea la sagazidad con estratagemas de intención. 2Nunca obra lo que indica, apunta, sí, para deslumbrar; 3amaga al aire con destreza y executa en la impensada realidad, atenta siempre a desmentir. 4Echa una intención para assegurarse de la émula atención, 5y rebuelve luego contra ella venciendo por lo impensado. 6Pero la penetrante inteligencia la previene con atenciones, la azecha con reflexas, 7entiende siempre lo contrario de lo que quiere que entienda, y conoce luego qualquier intentar de falso; 8dexa passar toda primera, y está en espera a la segunda y aun a la tercera. 9Augméntase la simulación al ver alcançado su artificio, y pretende engańar con la misma verdad: 10muda de juego por mudar de treta, y haze artificio del no artificio, fundando su astucia en la mayor candidez. 11Acude la observación intendiendo su perspicacia, y descubre las tinieblas revestidas de la luz; 12desçifra la intención, más solapada quanto más sencilla. 13Desta suerte combaten la calidez de Pitón contra la candidez de los penetrantes rayos de Apolo.

Reacting to intentions, sometimes second, and sometimes first. 1Man's life is a militia against man's malice, and cunning succeeds through strategic changes of intention. 2Cunning never does what it shows, it takes aim, yes, but to deceive; 3gestures openly and skillfully, but strikes in an unexpected direction, always ready to conceal its true intention. 4Shows one intention to ensure attention, then turns against that intention, winning with the unexpected. 5But a penetrating and attentive intellect anticipates cunning, ambushes it with caution, 6understand always the opposite of what cunning expected it to understand, 7and recognizes quickly all efforts to deceive; 8it lets pass all first intentions, and lies in wait for the second and even the third. 9Cunning grows in deceit at seeing itself discovered, and tries to deceive with truth itself: 10changes its game by changing its trick, guiles by not guiling, founding deception in the greatest candor. 11Observation sees through deceit and discovers the darkness cloaked in the light; 12deciphers the intention, more devious when more simple. 13In this manner the cunning of Python combats against the candor of the penetrating rays of Apollo.

Be attentive to deceit.

Title ya segunda, y ya primera - Blanco writes this about primera y segunda intención: En sentido moral, es quando se hace una cosa descubiertamente ya a las claras, y se tiene otro fin u designio oculto y que no le manifiesta aquella accion/in a moral sense, it is when one does something openly but has also a hidden design that the action does not manifest (p. 107). Fischer is correct to translate ya segunda, y ya primera as "sometimes indirectly, and sometimes directly." Savage opts for "sometimes cunningly, sometimes candidly." Maurer prefers "ulterior and superior motives." Lockley writes "Act as often on second impulse as you do on first," which is his idea of being faithful to the text. Walton uses "sometimes disingenuously, sometimes with candour." Jacobs writes "sometimes on second thoughts, sometimes on first impulses." But, of course, this is not what Gracián wrote. Again, we don't want to deprive readers of Gracián's wonderful subtleties.

San Ignacio de Loyola 1 St. Ignatious, founder of the Jusuit Order, conceived of life as war. And Job described man's life as a militia over the earth. Apollo killing Python

2 deslumbrar - engańar/deceive.

3 amaga al aire - insinuate, feign.

13 Python is the serpent killed by Apollo at the foot of Parnassus.

La realidad y el modo. 1No basta la substancia, requiérese también la circunstancia. 2Todo lo gasta un mal modo, hasta la justicia y razón. 3El bueno todo lo suple: dora el no, endulça la verdad y afeita la misma vejez. 4Tiene gran parte en las cosas el cómo, y es taúr de los gustos el modillo. 5Un vel portarse es la gala del vivir, desempeńa singularmente todo buen término.

Reality and the manner. 1Substance alone will not do, the circumstance is also required. 2Bad form spoils everything, even justice and reason. 3Good form supplies everything: makes a "no" golden, sweetens the truth and beautifies old age. 4The how has a great part in things, and form is the cornerstone of taste. 5Good behavior is the elegance of life, and makes possible all good endings.

It's not just what you do, it's the way that you do it.

Title The literal translation to la realidad y el modo is "reality and the manner (or the how)," which is how Maurer translates this. Savage writes "the thing, and the manner of its accomplishing" and Jacobs translates it as "the thing itself and the way it's done," which I think is exactly what Gracián is getting at. Walton selects "substance and accidents," which is, surprisingly for him, much off the mark. Fischer prefers "substance and form," which I think is the correct interpretation but, again, not what Gracián wrote. Lockley's effort "to be as close to the Spanish original as could be" results in "Clothe reality with a gracious manner." Essentially, Gracián is asking us to be careful how we do things. Interestingly Schopenhauer translated this as Die Sache un die Art/The Thing and the Art. Amelot de la Houssaie had it exactly right in the French translation: La chose et la maničre.

2 Todo lo gasta - gasta in this context refers to spoil, damage, ruin.

3 Isn't the metaphor of afeita la misma vejezshaves old age lovely?

4 modillo - affectionate diminutive for modo. As with a name, e.g., Paquillo, Manolillo.

5 vel - bello, beautiful behavior.

5 Good behavior is the elegance of life - Jacobs offers this lovely passage from Emerson: "Beautiful behavior is the finest of the fine arts."

Comment In calling for attention to the "how," Gracián is making a plea for particularity, for appreciating the context of a situation. Here is an appropriate passage from Aristotle: "It is an easy matter to know the effects of honey, wine, hellebore, cautery, and cutting. But to know how, for whom, and when we should apply these as remedies is no less an undertaking than being a physician. (Nichomachean Ethics, Book V, 1137a). Michel Foucault: "People know what they do. They frequently know why they do what they do. What they don't know is what they do does."

Tener ingenios auxiliares. 1Felicidad de poderosos; acompańarse de valientes de entendimiento que le saquen de todo ignorante aprieto, 2que le rińan las pendencias de la dificultad. 3Singular grandeza servirse de sabios, y que excede al bárbaro gusto de Tigranes, aquel que afectava los rendidos Reyes para criados. 4Nuevo género de seńorío, en lo mejor del vivir hazer siervos por arte de los que hizo la naturaleza superiores. 5Ai mucho que saber y es poco el vivirlo, y no se vive si no se sabe. 6Es, pues, singular destreza el estudiar sin que cueste, y mucho por muchos, sabiendo por todos. 7Dize después en un Consistorio por muchos, o por su voca hablan tantos sabios quantos le previnieron, 8consiguiendo el crédito de Oráculo a sudor ageno. 9Hazen aquéllos primero elección de la lición, y sírvenle después en quintas essencias el saber. 10Pero el que no pudiere alcançar a tener la sabiduría en servidumbre, lógrela en familiaridad.

Surrounding oneself with people of intellect. 1Joy of the powerful: to be accompanied by people of great understanding who get them out of any tight situation caused by ignorance, 2and who resolve difficult matters for them. 3It is a singular greateness to use the wise, and it exceeds the barbarous taste of Tigranes, who made servants of the kings who surrendered to him. 4It is a new type of majesty, in the best of life making servants through our skill those whom nature made our superior. 5Life is short and there is much to know, and one does not live if one does not know. 6It is, thus, a singular skill to study without begrudging the effort, and to study much from many sources, learning from them all. 7Whoever does this will be able to speak for many at important gatherings, and from their mouths will speak all the wise men who were studied, 8thus they will earn renown as oracles by the sweat of the brow of others. 9They first select a subject and then serve forth its knowledge in measured essences. 10But those who cannot make wisdom their servant, make it then their friend.

Stay close to smart people.
And love your schoolwork.

1 In this context, valiente means excellent, first-rate (Blanco, p. 109).

2 que le rińan las pendencias de la dificultad is a particularly tough passage. Savage translated this as "who disentangle their affairs." Jacobs opts for "worry out for them the moot point of any difficulty"; Maurer avoids the complexity and settles for "take their place in battling difficulty." Lockley prefers "who can guide them around unperceived dangers." Walton writes "and can fight the hard battles for them." Blanco writes that the passage should be understood to mean que le resuelvan las pendencias the difícil solució/who will resolve the quarrels that are difficult to solve.

King Tigranes ... well, not really, but close. 3 Tigranes, after having been held hostage by the Romans, became King of Armenia in the first century BC. He conquered Parthia. After defeating kings in various wars, he appeared in public with them and made slaves of them (Blanco, p. 110; Maurer, p. 9).

4 Nuevo género de seńorío is another toughie.

Hippocrates and the Hippocratic Oath 5 Ai mucho que saber y es poco el vivirlo - hommage to Hippocrates, "Ars longa, vita brevis"/art is long, life is short.

6 estudiar sin que cueste is, literally, "studying without it costing you." Gracián refers to being able to study for the joy of studying rather than seeing it as a chore. In education, having a "mastery goal orientation."

6 mucho por muchos - according to Prof. Asun, estudiar mucho por muchos medios (p. 147).

Variar de tenor en el obrar. 1No siempre de un modo, para deslumbrar la atención, y más si émula. 2No siempre de primera intención, que le cogerán la uniformidad, previniéndole, y aun frustrándole las acciones. 3Fácil es de matar al buelo el ave que le tiene seguido, no assí la que le tuerze. 4Ni siempre de segunda intención, que le entenderán a dos vezes la treta. 5Está a la espera la malicia; gran sutileza es menester para desmentirla. 6Nunca juega el taúr la pieza que el contrario presume, y menos la que desea.

Varying the tone of your actions. 1Not always in the same way, so as to divert attention, especially if you wish to better your opponent. 2Not always from your first impulse, for others will learn to read you, anticipate you, and frustrate your actions. 3Easy it is to kill a bird who flies straight, but not one who swerves. 4And not always from second thought, for they will see through your trick after two attempts. 5Malice lies in wait; great subtlety is needed to uncover her. 6The taur never moves the piece the opponent expects, and less the one he desires.

Change your strategy.
And not always in the same way

6 The word taúr comes from the mythological concept of beings with bodies comprising a mixture of human and other animal features (e.g., centaur, minotaur, goat-taur/from the Greek, kentaurus). Below are some examples. You see, then, Gracián's clever suggestion that it can be difficult to intuit the role such beings will play in any given endeavor, as this will much depend on who their enemy is.

Comment This is an excellent example of why Gracián must be translated with greater accuracy, even if the translation results in a more challenging reading that requires unpacking the symbolism. Here is how Maurer translates that particular sentence: "The consummate player never moves the piece his opponent expects him to, and, less still, the piece he wants him to move." And here is Jacobs: "The gamester never plays the card the opponent expects, still less that which he wants." Walton follows a similar route but uses "sharper" (sharper?) rather than "gamester." Savage writes "a cunning gamester never plays the card that his adversary expects, and much less which he desires." In a sense, these translators show little trust in their readers' intellect or in their ability to interpret a symbol. Clearly, Gracián had that trust, lest he would have written what these translators say he wrote. Not to mention that they take all the fun out of him.

Aplicación y Minerva. 1No ai eminencia sin entrambas, y si concurren, excesso. 2Más consigue una medianía con aplicación que una superioridad sin ella. 3Cómprase la reputación a precio de trabajo; poco vale lo que poco cuesta. 4Aun para los primeros empleos se deseó en algunos la aplicación: raras vezes desmiente al genio. 5No ser eminente en el empleo vulgar por querer ser mediano en el sublime, escusa tiene de generosidad; 6pero contentarse con ser mediano en el último, pudiendo ser excelente en el primero, no la tiene. 7Requiérense, pues, naturaleza y arte, y sella la aplicación.

Application and Minerva. 1There can be no greatness without both, and if they converge, greater greatness. 2More obtains an average intellect with application than a superior one without it. 3Reputation is purchased with hard work; what does not cost much has not much value. 4Even for the highest endeavors was application required of some; rarely is it incompatible with intellect. 5Not being highly successful in a common task because you prefer to be mediocre in a challenging task can be generously excused; 6but being content with mediocrity in the former, having the capacity of excelling in the latter, has no excuse. 7Nature and art, then, are required, and application seals it.

Apply yourself.
No matter how smart you are.

Title Minerva (Athena) is the Roman goddess of wisdom (there you see her with the wise owl). For Gracián, Minerva refers to capacidades o cualidades naturales y morales (Blanco, p. 111; Romera-Navarro, p. 46). Pelegrín equates her with intelligence (p. 202).

A seal. 3 poco vale lo que poco cuesta - from the Spanish refrain Lo que mucho vale, mucho cuesta/what has great value has great cost.

7 sella - the act of putting a stamp or seal on the envelope, suggesting that the writing is done and the letter ready to be posted; the matter has concluded.

No entrar con sobrada expectación. 1Ordinario desaire de todo lo mui celebrado antes, no llegar después al excesso de lo concebido. 2Nunca lo verdadero pudo alcançar a lo imaginado, porque el fingirse las perfecciones es fácil, y mui dificultoso el conseguirlas. 3Cásase la imaginación con el deseo, y concibe siempre mucho más de lo que las cosas son. 4Por grandes que sean las excelencias, no bastan a satisfazer el concepto, y como le hallan engańado con la exorbitante expectación, más presto le desengańan que le admiran. 5La esperança es gran falsificadora de la verdad: corríjala la cordura, procurando que sea superior la fruición al deseo. 6Unos principios de crédito sirven de despertar la curiosidad, no de empeńar el objecto. 7Mejor sale quando la realidad excede al concepto y es más de lo que se creyó. 8Faltará esta regla en lo malo, pues le ayuda la mesma exageración; 9desmiéntela con aplauso, y aun llega a parecer tolerable lo que se temió extremo de ruin.

Not entering with exaggerated expectations. 1Typical misfortune of all that is highly touted beforehand, not living up to what was expected of it. 2Never was the real able to reach the imagined, because pretending that something is perfect is easy, but achieving perfection is difficult; 3Imagination weds desire, and conceives much more than what things are. 4However great is the excellence of a thing, it cannot satisfy the conception of it, and if people have previously been deceived with an exorbitant expectation, more quickly will they be disappointed than admire it. 5Hope greatly falsifies truth: act wisely, taking care that enjoyment exceed desire. 6A few compliments at the start serve to awaken curiosity, without pawning the object. 7It turns out better when reality exceeds the preconception and is more than what was expected. 8This rule does not apply to that which is bad, for this is helped by exaggeration; 9cloak it with applause, and even that which is feared ruinous in the extreme will seem tolerable.

Temper your expectations.

4 el concepto - actually, the preconceived conception.

Hombre en su siglo. 1Los sugetos eminentemente raros dependen de los tiempos. 2No todos tuvieron el que merecían, y muchos, aunque le tuvieron, no acertaron a lograrle. 3Fueron dignos algunos de mejor siglo, que no todo lo bueno triunfa siempre; 4tienen las cosas su vez, hasta las eminencias son al uso. 5Pero lleva una ventaja lo sabio, que es eterno; y si este no es su siglo, muchos otros lo serán.

Man in his century. 1People of rare eminence depend on their times. 2Not all had the one they deserved, and many, though they had it, failed to take advantage of it. 3Worthy were some of a better century, for not all that is good triumphs always; 4things have their time, even eminence bows to timeliness. 5But wisdom has one advantage, that it is eternal; and if this is not its century, many others will be.

Things have their season.

4 hasta las eminencias son al uso - Blanco writes: que incluso la concesión de eminencia por parte de los demás dependerá de las épocás/that even being recognized as an eminence by others depends on the age (p. 112).

5 lleva una ventaja lo sabio - Jacobs points out that this was one of Schopenhauer's favorite sayings and he quoted it in his Wille in d. Natur, 1836.

Arte para ser dichoso. 1Reglas ai de ventura, que no toda es acasos para el sabio; puede ser ayudada de la industria. 2Conténtanse algunos con ponerse de buen aire a las puertas de la fortuna y esperan a que ella obre. 3Mejor otros, passan adelante y válense de la cuerda audacia, 4que en alas de su virtud y valor puede dar alcançe a la dicha, y lisonjearla eficazmente. 5Pero, bien filosofado, no ai otro arbitrio sino el de la virtud y atención, 6porque no ai más dicha ni más desdicha que prudencia o imprudencia.

Art for being fortunate. 1There are rules to luck, not everything is chance for the wise; luck can be helped by skill. 2Some are content to place themselves confidently at Luck's door and expect her to start working. 3Others better pass forward and make use of a sensible audacity, 4and on the wings of their virtue and valor are able to reach fortune, ably flattering her. 5But, well philosophied, there is no recourse but that of virtue and attention, 6because there is no more fortune nor more misfortune than wisdom or lack of wisdom.

Woo lady luck.
But put your chips on wisdom.

1 industria - destreza o habilidad en qualqier arte/skill or capability in whatever art (Blanco, p. 113).

2 de buen aire - Se dice de aquel que se maneja con brío, garbo y gentileza, y que en los movimientos del cuerpo tiene proporcón y gravedad/is said of those who handle themselves with charm, grace, elegance, and gentility, and who in bodily movements have proportion and gravity (Blanco, p. 113).

Hombre de plausibles noticias. 1Es munición de discretos la cortesana gustossa erudición: 2un plático saber de todo lo corriente, más a lo noticioso, menos a lo vulgar. 3Tener una sazonada copia de sales en dichos, de galantería en hechos, y saberlos emplear en su ocasión, 4que salió a vezes mejor el aviso en un chiste que en el más grave magisterio. 5Sabiduría conversable valióles más a algunos que todas las siete, con ser tan liberales.

Person of plausible news. 1Agreeable and tasteful erudition is ammunition to the discreet: 2practical knowledge of current affairs, more of the noteworthy, less of the vulgar. 3Having an abundance of wit in speech, of gallantry in deed, and knowing the right occasion in which to use them, 4for the advice in a joke is sometimes more useful than the most serious teaching. 5Negotiable wisdom was of greater value to some than all seven arts, be they ever so liberal.

Be cosmopolitan.
And discerning.

2 plático - Gracián consistently uses this word in place of práctico/practical.

3 sazonada copia - abundancia y muchedumbre de alguna cosa/an abundance of some thing.

3 sales - in Spanish, to be salero means to have grace, wit, liveliness.

5 las siete, con ser tan liberales - the seven liberal arts that formed the trivium and cuadrivium of medieval times: grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music. The reason they are called the "liberal arts" is that they are presumed to make man libero/free. Note that Gracián sides with Seneca in contending that these liberal arts, for all their liberalness, bring man neither happiness nor virtue (Blanco, p. 114).

No tener algún desdoro. 1El sino de la perfección. 2Pocos viven sin achaque, assí en lo moral como en lo natural, y se apassionan por ellos pudiendo curar con facilidad. 3Lastímase la agena cordura de que tal vez a una sublime universalidad de prendas se le atreva un mínimo defecto, 4y basta una nube a eclipsar todo un Sol. 5Son lunares de la reputación, donde para luego, y aun repara, la malevolencia. 6Suma destreza sería convertirlos en realces. 7Desta suerte supo César laurear el natural desaire.

Having no blemish. 1The mark of perfection. 2Few live without ailments, both moral and natural, and they are impassioned by them when they could so easily cure them. 3The prudence of others is grieved by the possibility that a sublime universality of qualities may be threatened by one small defect, 4and yet one cloud is enough to eclipse the sun. 5Defects are moles on the face of reputation, on which malevolence soon rests, and then rests again. 6The greatest skill would be to convert them into excellent qualities. 7Thus did Caesar know to cover his natural slights with laurels.

Correct your flaws.

1 sino - some translators use the modern definition of this word, which is "fate" or "destiny." Gracián did not use the word in this manner. Sino is derived from the Latin signum, meaning "sign" or "mark," and it is this meaning that the word carries in this context.

2 Julius Caesar covering his baldness. achaque - enfermedad, disposición o vicio de la naturaleza/illness, disposition, or natural vice.

5 realces - cualidades excelentes/excellent qualities.

7 supo César laurear el natural desaire - Suetonius writes of Caesar covering his baldness either by clever rearrangement of his hair or, at times, with a wreath of laurels.

Templar la imaginación. 1Unas vezes corrigiéndola; otras ayudándola, que es el todo para la felicidad, y aun ajusta la cordura. 2Da en tirana, ni se contenta con la especulación, sino que obra, y aun suele seńorearse de la vida, 3haziéndola gustosa o pessada, según la necedad en que da, porque haze descontentos o satisfechos de sí mesmos. 4Representa a unos continuamente penas, hecha verdugo casero de necios. 5Propone a otros felicidades y aventuras con alegre desvanecimiento. 6Todo esto puede, si no la enfrena la prudentíssima sindéresis.

Tempering imagination. 1Sometimes correcting her; other times assisting her, for she means everything to happiness, and even adjusts wisdom. 2She is something of a tyrant, nor is she content to speculate, but rather acts, and can even take life over, 3making it savory or heavy, depending on the foolishness she encounters, because she creates discontent or self-satisfaction. 4To some she brings continual sorrow, she is a homemade executioner of fools. 5To others she brings joys and adventures with cheerful arrogance. 6All this she can do, if she is not checked by prudent judgment.

Don't let your imagination get the better of you.

5 desvanecimiento - Blanco suggests that, in this context, this should be taken to mean vanidad, presunción, altanería, soberbia/vanity, presumptiousness, arrogance, haughtiness.

6 sindéresis - juicio, buen sentido/judgment, good sense.

Buen entendedor. 1Arte era de artes saber discurrir: ya no basta, menester es adevinar, y más en desengańos. 2No puede ser entendido el que no fuere buen entendedor. 3Ai zaoríes del coraçón y linces de las intenciones. 4Las verdades que más nos importan vienen siempre a medio dezir; 5recíbanse del atento a todo entender: en lo favorable, tirante la rienda a la credulidad; en lo odioso, picarla.

Of sound understanding. 1Knowing how to infer was once the art of arts: now it is not enough, it is necessary to read minds, especially in deceptions. 2He cannot be well understood who cannot well understand. 3There are prophets of the heart and diviners of intentions. 4The truths that matter most to us come always half spoken; 5attend to all that is to be understood: in what is pleasant, tighten the reins on credulity; in what is odious, pierce it.

Be perceptive.

Title Gracián is making use of the refrain A buen entendedor, pocas palabras/To he who understands well, few words, from El Quijote.

Professor Maurer 1 desengańo - Gracián will use this word throughout the Oráculo in varied forms and contexts. The word has no easy translation. Here is Maurer's shrewd explanation: "In Gracián, extremes meet: the beginnings of wisdom lie in desengańo, a word that has no equivalent in English. Desengańo is more than "disillusionment"; it implies the dispelling of deceit (sengańo) and an awakening to truth (the truth of the human predicament, of a given situation of the character of others). It is moral clear-sightedness, tempered with skepticism; a putting aside of naive and sentimental illusion. That awakening produces an Argos: a many-eyed monster of attentiveness" (from A Pocket Mirror for Heroes, 1996, Doubleday, p. ix)

Hallarle su torcedor a cada uno. 1Es el arte de mover voluntades; más consiste en destreza que en resolución: 2un saber por dónde se le ha de entrar a cada uno. 3No ai voluntad sin especial afición, y diferentes según la variedad de los gustos. 4Todos son idólatras: unos de la estimación, otros del interés y los más del deleite. 5La mańa está en conocer estos ídolos para el motivar, conociéndole a cada uno su eficaz impulso: 6es como tener la llave del querer ageno. 7Hasse de ir al primer móbil, que no siempre es el supremo, las más vezes es el ínfimo, 8porque son más en el mundo los desordenados que los subordinados. 9Hásele de prevenir el genio primero, tocarle el verbo después, 10cargar con la afición, que infaliblemente dará mate al alvedrío.

Finding each person's turning point. 1It is the art of moving wills; this requires skill more than resolve: 2a knowledge of from where each person should be entered. 3There is no will without special inclination, and different ones depending on the variety of tastes. 4All wills are idolaters: some of respect or esteem, others of self-interest and most of pleasure. 5The craft lies in knowing these idols so as to motivate, knowing the effective impulse of each: 6it is like having the key to the desires of others. 7Go to the first impulse, which is not always the loftiest, more often it is the basest, 8because there are more in this world who are disordered than subordinated. 9Know someone's character first, then touch the impulse, 10and press the inclination, which will inevitably checkmate the will.

Know a person's basest impulses.

Title torcedor - from torcer/to twist. Gracián's injunction is for us to discover that which will make another person turn his mind around. Fischer and Jacobs both translate this as "thumbscrew." Savage prefers "foible," and Walton uses "weak spot."

7 primer móbil - from the Latin, primum mobile/prime mover. According to Blanco, por analogía se llama el principal motor y como causa de la execución y logro de alguna cosa/the principal motor and cause of the execution and achievement of a particular thing (p/ 116). This is the heart of this passage, as Gracián urges us to go for a person's primer móbil, that basic instinct which propels behavior. It is this that we must find in others.

8 desordenados que los subordinados - this is a play on words. Gracián distinguishes between people who are des-ordenados (lack all sense of order) and those who are sub-ordinados (submit to it).

9 prevenir el genio - knowing someone's character beforehand, predicting someone's character.

9 tocarle el verbo - examinar o tantear la habilidad de su entendimiento/examine or gauge their ability to understand (Asun, p. 151).

Pagarse más de intensiones que de extensiones. 1No consiste la perfección en la cantidad, sino en la calidad. 2Todo lo mui bueno fue siempre poco y raro, es descrédito lo mucho. 3Aun entre los hombres los Gigantes suelen ser los verdaderos Enanos. 4Estiman algunos los libros por la corpulencia, como si se escriviessen para exercitar antes los braços que los ingenios. 5La extensión sola nunca pudo exceder de medianía, y es plaga de hombres universales por querer estar en todo, estar en nada. 6La intensión da eminencia, y heroica si en materia sublime.

Paying yourself more with intensity than with extension. 1Perfection does not consist of quantity, but of quality. 2All very good things were always few and rare, muchness discredits. 3Even among men the Giants tend to be Dwarves. 4Some esteem books for their thickness, as if they were written to exercise arms rather than intellects. 5Quantity alone could never rise above mediocrity, and it is a plague of universal men that for wanting to be in everything, they are in nothing. 6Quality bestows eminence, and heroism if it is sublime in substance.

Value quality over quantity.

Title intensiones - quality.

Sir Francis Bacon 2 Todo lo mui bueno fue siempre poco y raro - Spanish proverb: Mas vale poco y bueno que mucho y malo/Better less and good than more and bad.

3 los Gigantes suelen ser los verdaderos Enanos - it bears noting that Gracián was himself ... vertically challenged . Also note Bacon's apophthegm, "Nature did never put her jewels in garrets."

5 por querer estar en todo, estar en nada - Seneca: Nusquam est, qui ubique est/Nowhere is, who everywhere is.

En nada vulgar. 1No en el gusto. ˇO, gran sabio el que se descontentaba de que sus cosas agradassen a los muchos!: 2hartazgos de aplauso común no satisfazen a los discretos. 3Son algunos tan camaleones de la popularidad, que ponen su fruición no en las mareas suavíssimas de Apolo, 4sino en el aliento vulgar. 5Ni en el entendimiento, no se pague de los milagros del vulgo, que no passan de espantaignorantes, 6admirando la necedad común quando desengańando la advertencia singular.

In nothing common. 1Not in taste. Oh, great sage who was displeased when he pleased the masses!: 2bagfuls of applause from the masses do not satisfy the wise. 3Some are such chameleons of popularity that they place their enjoyment not in the smooth winds of Apollo, 4but in the breath of common men. 5Nor in understanding, do not be paid by the admiration of the masses, who do not pass from frightening ignorance, 6admiring common nonsense while ignoring excellent counsel.

Be cultured.

Chameleons were thought to live on air, hence popularity has no substance

Title vulgar - this word carries two meanings in Spanish. First, of course, its cognate, "vulgar." Preferred, however is its first meaning, "common" or "pedestrian." Charles Dickens: "Never be mean in anything, never be false, never be cruel."

1 descontentaba de que sus cosas agradassen a los muchos - again Seneca: Nunquam volui populo placere/Never want to please the masses.

Apollo 3 camaleones de la popularidad - in legend, the chameleon nourished itself with air.

3 las mareas suavíssimas de Apolo - Apollo is the god of the arts, of prudence and wisdom, qualities that, in this case, are converted into the winds that propel understanding (Asun, p. 151).

5 espantaignorantes - classical Spanish, literally, "frighteningly ignorant."

Hombre de entereza. 1Siempre de parte de la razón, con tal tesón de su propósito, 2que ni la passión vulgar, ni la violencia tirana le obliguen jamás a pisar la raya de la razón. 3Pero żquién será este Fenis de la equidad?, que tiene pocos finos la entereza. 4Celébranla muchos, mas no por su casa; síguenla otros hasta el peligro; 5en él los falsos la niegan, los políticos la dissimulan. 6No repara ella en encontrarse con la amistad, con el poder, y aun con la propria conveniencia, 7y aquí es el aprieto del desconocerla. 8Abstrahen los astutos con metafísica plausible por no agraviar, o la razón superior, o la de estado; 9pero el constante varón juzga por especie de traición el dissimulo; 10préciase más de la tenacidad que de la sagacidad; 11hállase donde la verdad se halla; 12y si dexa los sugetos, no es por variedad suya, sino dellos en dexarla primero.

Person of integrity. 1Always on the side of reason, with such strength of purpose 2that neither common passion nor tyrannical violence will ever compel him to cross the line of reason. 3But who shall be this Phoenix of justice?, for integrity has few faithful suitors. 4Many praise her, but not in their own house; others follow her even into danger; 5in it the false deny her, politicians disguise her. 6She does not worry about combating friendship, power, or even her own self-interest, 7and herein lies the problem of denying her. 8The astute make plausible metaphysical distinctions so as not to offend, either superior reason, or that of the state; 9but the constant man judges this pretense a type of treason; 10integrity takes greater pride in tenacity than in cleverness; 11finds herself where truth is found; 12and if she leaves individuals, it is not of her own doing, but theirs in leaving her first.

Be a person of integrity.

3 Fenis - the reference is to the Phoenix, by which Gracián usually means unique and rare.

3 finos - amoroso, seguro, constante y fiel, como amigo fino/loving, secure, constant and faithful, as a fine friend (Blanco, p. 118). Note the word play Finis/finos.

4 mas no por su casa - from a Spanish refran: Justicia, justicia, mas no por mi casa/Justice, justice, no more for my house.

6 encontrarse - usually "encountering," but in this context, "combating," "doing battle with." As in encountering the enemy in a field of battle.

8 Abstrahen - establecer distinciones/to establish distinctions.

10 and Comment préciase más ... - from this point, my translation differs from those of others, who attribute the closing phrases to the constant man/el constante varón. I believe the attribution is to integrityla entereza. I believe a close reading reveals that Gracián picks up at this point the thread that he began with No repara ella .../She does not worry about. The key here lies in dexarla primero/leaving her first. Note the feminine dexarla, which cannot refer to el constante varón. It must refer either to la entereza or to la verdad/truth. Jacobs, Walton, and Maurer opt for truth, whereas Fischer distorts the passage to such a great extent that "loyalties" are doing a sort of leaving ("and if he changes his loyalties, it is not because of the fickleness in him, but because they first changed on him"). Savage goes in yet another direction: "he is always where truth is; and if he sometimes leaves People, it is not that he is fluctuating, but because they have first forsaken their best guide, which is reason." Lockley avoids the problem by distorting the passage and choosing not to translate the last portion. Close study of the passage shows that attributing the last phrase to truth is imprecise. Here is how the literal translation would read: [the constant man] "takes greater pride in tenacity than in cleverness; finds himself where truth is found; and if he leaves individuals, it is not of his own doing (fickleness, which other translators prefer, is fine if inexact), but theirs in leaving her first." The connection back to truth seems awkward and illogical. Note how the translation attributing these phrases to integrity is both logical and satisfying. But I could be wrong.

No hazer professión de empleos desautorizados. 1Mucho menos de quimera, que sirve más de solicitar el desprecio que el crédito. 2Son muchas las setas del capricho, y de todas ha de huir el varón cuerdo. 3Ai gustos exóticos, que se casan siempre con todo aquello que los sabios repudian: 4viven mui pagados de toda singularidad, que aunque los haze mui conocidos, 5es más por motivos de la risa que de la reputación. 6Aun en professión de sabio no se ha de seńalar el atento, 7mucho menos en aquellas que hazen ridículos a sus afectantes, 8ni se especifican, porque las tiene individuadas el común descrédito.

Not making a profession from unauthorized occupations. 1Much less a whimsical one, which serves more to solicit scorn than to enhance reputation. 2Caprice has many offspring, and from all of them should the wise man flee. 3There are exotic tastes, which wed always those things that wise men repudiate: 4they live well paid by notoriety, which though it makes them well known, 5it is more as objects of ridicule than of reputation. 6Even in a profession of wise men one should not stand out, 7much less in those that make their practitioners look ridiculous, 8they need not be specified, for common disrepute has them well marked.

Have an honorauble occupation.

7 sus afectantes - los que exageran la importancia de su profesión o cargo/those who exaggerate their profession or position (Blanco, p. 119). I'm relatively certain Gracián had university professors in mind here.

8 individuadas - seńaladas.

Conocer los afortunados, para la elección; y los desdichados, para la fuga. 1La infelicidad es de ordinario crimen de necedad, y de participantes: 2no ay contagión tan apegadiza. 3Nunca se le ha de abrir la puerta al menor mal, 4que siempre vendrán tras él otros muchos, y mayores, en celada. 5La mejor treta del juego es saberse descartar: 6más importa la menor carta del triunfo que corre que la mayor del que pasó. 7En duda, acierto es llegarse a los sabios y prudentes, que tarde o temprano topan con la ventura.

Knowing the blessed in order to select them; and the cursed in order to flee from them. 1Unhappiness is ordinarily a crime of foolishness, and of participants: 2there is no disease so catching. 3The door should never be opened to the smallest bad, 4for always after it will follow others, and bigger, in ambush. 5The best skill at cards is knowing when to discard: 6greater import has the lowest card in play than the highest card discarded. 7When in doubt, good sense is reaching the wise and prudent, who sooner or later run into fortune.

Stick to good people. Avoid bad ones.

1 The first line of this passage is from Lucanus, Fatis accede deisque et cole felices, miseros fuge.

Comment Compare with William James "The best claim that a college education can possibly make on your respect, the best thing it can aspire to accomplish for you, is this: that it should help you to know a good man when you see him."

Estar en opinión de dar gusto. 1Para los que goviernan, gran crédito de agradar: 2realce de soberanos para conquistar la gracia universal. 3Ésta sola es la ventaja del mandar: poder hazer más bien que todos. 4Aquéllos son amigos que hazen amistades. 5Al contrario, están otros puestos en no dar gusto, 6no tanto por lo cargoso quanto por lo maligno, 7opuestos en todo a la divina comunicabilidad.

Being known for pleasing. 1To those who govern, being pleasant brings great credit: 2it is a shining quality required of sovereigns if they are to conquer the good graces of all. 3This alone is the advantage of command: being able to do more good than anyone else. 4They are friends who make friends. 5Nonetheless, some are bent on not pleasing, 6not so much because it is cumbersome but because they are malignant, 7opposed in everything to divine communicability.

Be pleasing.

Comment dar gusto - literally, dar gusto refers to leaving a "good taste" in someone's mouth. Jacobs and Fischer prefer being "gracious," Walton being "pleasant," and Lockley "developing a reputation for graciousness." I like that as well, but one can be gracious without leaving a taste. de Aragon chooses "congenial." Maurer prefers "be known for pleasing others."

Title Estar en opinión de dar gusto - according to Morena-Navarro, tener fama de complaciente/being known for being complaisant.

1 de agradar - elsewhere Gracián has written that agradar is a political act as well and even a major aim of statesmanship (Asun, p. 153).

4 amistades - Romera-Navarro suggests that this should be understood as mercedes/literally "mercies," but, in the vernacular, "gifts," or favores/favors. Asun agrees. I'm not convinced, but I'll look into it.

6 cargoso - molesto, pesado, gravoso/bothersome, annoying, onerous.

Saber abstraher, 1que si es gran lición del vivir el saber negar, 2mayor será saberse negar a sí mesmo, a los negocios, a los personages. 3Ai ocupaciones estrańas, polillas del precioso tiempo, 4y peor es ocuparse en lo impertinente que hazer nada. 5No basta para atento no ser entremetido, 6mas es menester procurar que no le entremetan. 7No ha de ser tan de todos, que no sea de sí mesmo. 8Aun de los amigos no se ha de abusar, ni quiera más de ellos de lo que le concedieren. 9Todo lo demasiado es vicioso, y mucho más en el trato. 10Con esta cuerda templança se conserva mejor el agrado con todos, y la estimación, 11porque no se roza la preciosíssima decencia. 12Tenga, pues, libertad de genio, apassionado de lo selecto, 13y nunca peque contra la Fe de su buen gusto.

Knowing when to put something aside, 1for it is a great lesson of living to know how and when to say no, 2a greater lesson still to know how and when to say no in giving yourself, in business affairs, and to other persons. 3There are strange activities, moths of precious time, 4and it is worse to be occupied with the impertinent than to do nothing. 5It is not enough for a considerate individual to not be meddlesome, 6he must ensure that he is not meddled with. 7Do not belong so much to others than you do not belong to yourself. 8Do not abuse even of your friends, nor want more from them than they are willing to give. 9All excess is vice, and much more in human dealings. 10With this wise moderation is best conserved agreeableness with every one, and esteem, 11because precious decency is not scraped. 12Have, then, freedom of character, impassioned by the best of things, 13and never sin against the faith of your own good taste.

Know when to say no, and be moderate in all things.

Title abstraher - separar y dexar a un lado/separate and put aside. Asun adds, en el uso común de nuestra lengua se toma por separar y dejar a un lado, y como omitiendo por cierto tiempo alguna razón, motivo, discurso o cosa semejante, para que no se interrumpa lo que se va tratando/in common Spanish usage, to separate and put aside, and to omit for a while a particular reason, motive, discussion, or similar thing so as not to interrupt what is being dealt with (p. 153).

Perhaps you didn't hear me clearly. I said 'No!' 1 saber negar - this is actually a tough phrase. Literally, negar is "to negate," but "Knowing to negate" is neither elegant nor meaningful. Jacobs selects "to deny," but that is highly awkward and potentially misleading; Fischer, Walton, Lockley, and Maurer prefer "refuse," which seems to me closer to Gracián's intended meaning. Savage goes with "refuse favors," which is but one facet of saying no. What Gracián is getting at, of course, is that it is a great lesson of life to know how and when to say no and, a greater lesson still, to know how and when to say no to giving of yourself (negar a sí mesmo). For the sake of clarity, I went with the more accurate but wordier translation.

3 estrańas - Blanco suggests lo que es singular y extraordinario/that which is unique and extraordinary (p. 121), but this hardly seems consistent with the passage. More likely, it seems, would be the literal translation, "strange" or "odd."

Aristotle ... well, Raphael's Aristotle 9 Todo lo demasiado es vicioso - this follows from several refrains and proverbs dating back to Aristotle and Seneca, who place virtue at the center of extremes. Aristotle: "In everything, it is no easy task to find the middle." from Nicomachean Ethics, Book II, #9. Seneca: Vitiosum est ubique quod nimium est/excess in anything becomes a fault. Ovid: In medio tutissimus ibis/you will be safest in the middle.

12 selecto - literally, "select," meaning "choice" or "superior," crčme de la crčme.

Comment From Eisenschiml: The Chinese have a proverb that the first indulgence is a favor, the second a rule, the third a chain.

Conocer su realce Rei: 1la prenda relevante, cultivando aquélla, y ayudando a las demás. 2Qualquiera huviera conseguido la eminencia en algo si huviera conocido su ventaja. 3Observe el atributo Rei, y cargue la aplicación: 4en unos excede el juicio, en otros el valor. 5Violentan los más su Minerva, y assí en nada consiguen superioridad: 6lo que lisongea presto la passión desengańa tarde el tiempo.

Knowing your best quality: 1the outstanding quality, cultivate it, and aid the others. 2Anyone could have obtained eminence in something had he but known his advantage. 3Take note of your king of attributes, and apply yourself fully: 4some have an excess of good judgment, others of courage. 5Most people violate their talents, and thus in nothing attain superiority: 6that which passion flatters early, time disillusions later.

Know your strengths.
And use them well.

3 cargue - in this context, aumentar/augment, increase. From its root meaning, to add weight.

5 Minerva - in this context, dotes personales, capacidad/personal talents, capacity.

Professor Howard Gardner Comment Howard Gardner addresses this matter directly in Extraordinary Minds when he writes about leveraging, by which he means "the capacity of certain individuals to ignore areas of weakness and, in effect, to ask: 'In which ways can I use my own strengths in order to gain a competitive advantage in the domain in which I have chosen to work?' The more that an individual can make use of his unique strengths in attacking a problem, the more likely that he will arrive at an approach that holds special, hitherto unanticipated promise for illuminating that problem (p. 148-149). He adds "We are all deviants from the norm in one or more particulars" (p. 47). "Discover your difference—the asynchrony with which you have been blessed or cursed—and make the most of it" (p. 154).

Hazer concepto. 1Y más de lo que importa más. 2No pensando se pierden todos los necios: nunca conciben en las cosas la metad; 3y como no perciben el dańo, o la conveniencia, tampoco aplican la diligencia. 4Hazen algunos mucho caso de lo que importa poco, 5y poco de lo que mucho, ponderando siempre al rebés. 6Muchos, por faltos de sentido, no le pierden. 7Cosas ai que se devrían observar con todo el conato y conservar en la profundidad de la mente. 8Haze concepto el sabio de todo, 9aunque con distinción caba donde ai fondo y reparo; 10y piensa tal vez que ai más de lo que piensa, 11de suerte que llega la reflexión adonde no llegó la aprehensión.

Making conceptions. 1And more about what matters most. 2All fools lose themselves by not thinking: they never conceive in a thing the half of it; 3and since they do not perceive the damage, or the advantage, neither do they apply due diligence. 4Some pay much attention to what matters little, 5and little to what matters much, pondering always backwards. 6Many, lacking sense, cannot lose it. 7There are things that should be observed with great effort and conserved in the depth of the mind. 8The wise think carefully about everything, 9although they especially dig where there is depth and the possibility of repair; 10and they think that perhaps there is more than what they think, 11and so reflection reaches where apprehension does not.

Think. Deeply. With purpose.

Title Hazer concepto - another challenging phrase. Literally "making a concept," hazer concepto has varied meanings. It can mean "making sense of" something, having an idea about it, and even thinking things through. Savage translates this as "to weigh things according to their just value." Jacobs and Walton choose "think over things"; Maurer prefers "weigh matters carefully"; Fischer opts for "think," which is not altogether off the mark. Lockley writes "take thought." But there is more to hazer concepto than simply thinking or thinking over. In his updated version, Diez Fernandez updates Hazer concepto to Sopesar las cosas/Weigh things, in concert with Maurer's take on the matter. I've taken the easy way out and opted for "making conceptions" in the opening phrase and "think carefully about" later in passage. Do keep in mind, however, that, to "make a concept," thinking (or thinking through) must have a satisfying end, a "sense-making" aim. Maybe "making conceptions" will become a new catchphrase. And I reserve the right to change my mind after I make concepto of this.

Comment Eisenschiml offers a wonderful passage germane to this aphorism: "Men give me credit for genius," Alexander Hamilton said, "All the genius I have is this: when I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. What people attribute to genius is in truth nothing but the fruit of thought and incessant labor."

3 y como no perciben el dańo, o la conveniencia, tampoco aplican la diligencia - see, this is one of those unfortunate cases in which the poetry is lost. No translation can do justice to the music of conveniencia ... diligencia without distorting the passage. Alas.

7 conato - esfuerzo empeńo, aplicación y cuidado grande en la execución de alguna cosa/tenacious effort and great care in the execution of a thing (Blanco, p. 122).

This is William James, and all who know me know that I would find a place on this page to put his photograph. 9 reparo - repair. In other words, where there is a genuine question at stake and the answer has some import. Gracián asks us to dig in caves that have "repair," which is to say that our efforts will result in something being corrected or improved. This admonition is in concert with a key tenet of pragmatism, which asks its practitioners not to engage a philosophical matter unless the question has "cash value." Here is William James: "What difference would it practically make to anyone if this notion rather than that notion were true? If no practical difference whatever can be traced, then the alternatives mean practically the same thing, and all dispute is idle. Whenever a dispute is serious, we ought to be able to show some practical difference that must follow from one side or the other's being right" (Pragmatism, Lecture II).

Tener tanteada su fortuna: 1para el proceder, para el empeńarse. 2Importa más que la observación del temperamento, 3que si es necio el que a quarenta ańos llama a Hipócrates para la salud, 4más el que a Séneca para la cordura. 5Gran arte saberla regir, ya esperándola, que también cabe la Espera en ella, 6ya lográndola, que tiene vez y contingente; 7si bien no se le puede coger el tenor, tan anómalo es su proceder. 8El que la observó favorable prosiga con despejo, que suele apasionarse por los osados; 9y aun, como vizarra, por los jóvenes. 10No obre el que es infeliz, retírese, ni le dé lugar de dos infelicidades. 11Adelante el que le predomina.

Having your luck calculated: 1in order to proceed, in order to go into debt. 2This matters more than observing your temperament, 3for he is foolish who only after forty years calls Hippocrates for health, 4even more foolish to call on Seneca for wisdom. 5Great art knowing how to govern her, now awaiting her, for Hope also lies within her, 6now obtaining her, for she has her own time and contingency; 7although her tone cannot be taken, so anomalous is her conduct. 8To him who she favored proceed confidently, for she tends to have a passion for the bold; 9and also, magnanimously, for the young. 10Act not he who is unlucky, withdraw, lest you become twice unlucky. 11Forward he who can master her.

Keep stock of your luck.

6 vez y contingente - in English, this would be akin to "rhythm and rhyme." The idea is that luck has her own sense of timing and her own reasons for annointing us.

8 osado - from a Spanish proverb: Al hombre osado la fortuna le da la mano/Fortune gives her hand to the daring. Dating to Virgil.

Conocer y saber usar de las varillas. 1Es el punto más sutil del humano trato. 2Arrójanse para tentativa de los ánimos, 3y házese con ellas la más dissimulada y penetrante tienta del coraçón. 4Otras ai maliciosas, arrojadizas, tocadas de la yerva de la invidia, untadas del veneno de la passión: 5rayos imperceptibles para derribar de la gracia, y de la estimación. 6Cayeron muchos de la privança superior y inferior, heridos de un leve dicho déstos, a quienes toda una conjuración de murmuración vulgar y malevolencia singular no fueron vastantes a causar la más leve trepidación. 7Obran otras, al contrario, por favorables, apoyando y confirmando en la reputación. 8Pero con la misma destreza con que las arroja la intención las ha de recibir la cautela y esperarlas la atención, 9porque está librada la defensa en el conocer y queda siempre frustrado el tiro prevenido.

Recognizing and knowing how to use insinuations. 1It is the most subtle point in human dealings. 2They are thrown to test the spirit, 3and with them the heart can be most dissimulating and penetrating probe of the heart. 4There are others that are malicious, carelessly thrown about, touched by the grass of envy, smeared with the venom of passion: 5invisible thunderbolts with which to overthrow grace, and esteem. 6Many, for whom an entire conspiracy of vulgar whispers and singular malevolence were not enough to cause the slightest trepidation, have fallen from intimacy with superiors and inferiors, wounded by a slight jibe from them. 7Some insinuations work quite the opposite, as favorable, upholding and confirming reputation. 8But with the same skill with which intention throws them must caution receive them and attention await them, 9because defense is prepared by recognition and the shot expected always misses.

Beware of sarcasm and insinuation.

4 arrojadizas - arrojadas al descuido/carelessly thrown (Morena-Navarro, p. 82).

6 privança - from the Portuguese, meaning valimento, intimidade, amizade/intimacy, frienship.

6 trepidación - in this context, Blanco suggests that it refers to the slight, imperceptible movement of the planets in the Ptolemaic system. Most authorities typically prefer "fear." I agree; "trepidation" works well.

9 librada - Morena-Navarro suggests fundada/founded (p. 83); Blanco suggests that it has obvious resonance to librar la espada de la esgrima: no consentir el atajo del contrario, sino sacar la espada de debaxo para tenerla libre/draw the fencing sword: not consent the opponent's short cut, but bring out the sword underneath to have it ready. He especially finds this meaning warranted given the "shot" that follows.

Saberse dexar ganando con la fortuna. 1Es de taúres de reputación. 2Tanto importa una vella retirada como una vizarra acometida; 3un poner en cobro las hazańas quando fueren vastantes, quando muchas. 4Continuada felicidad fue siempre sospechosa; más segura es la interpolada, 5y que tenga algo de agridulce, aun para la fruición. 6Quanto más atropellándose las dichas, corren mayor riesgo de deslizar y dar al traste con todo. 7Recompénsase tal vez la brevedad de la duración con la intensión del favor. 8Cánsase la fortuna de llevar a uno a cuestas tan a la larga.

Knowing when to quit winning with luck. 1The professionals do. 2A beautiful retreat is as important as a valiant attack; 3cash in your achievements when they have sufficed, however many. 4Continued happiness was always suspect; safer is the alternating kind, 5and that it have something of the bittersweet, even for the taste. 6The more that blessings accrue, the greater the risk they run of sliding and spoiling everything. 7Perhaps the brief duration is rewarded by the intensity of the favor. 8Luck tires of carrying one up such long and steep hills.

Quit while you're ahead.

Title Saberse dexar ganando con la fortuna - A clever wordplay. Maurer translates it as "Quit while you're ahead." de Aragon agrees: "Leave the game before your luck runs out." Savage opts for "to be moderate in good fortune." Walton writes "to know how to abandon the game when their luck is in." However, Jacobs and Fischer understand something quite different. Jacobs: "Leave your luck while winning"; Fischer: "Say farewell to luck when winning." Eisenschiml: "Do not trust a long continued run of good luck." Lockley writes "leave while gaining with fortune," which is very close. Literally, the passage is "knowing to leave winning with luck/fortune," and that, though clumsy in English, seems to me Gracián's obvious intent, especially given the message that follows. I have decided to stay literal, and faithfully accurate, on this one at the cost of being inelegant.

1 taúres de reputación - In El Heroe, Gracián writes that sutileza de taúr[es] saberse dejar con ganancia, donde la prosperidad es el juego y la desdicha tan de veras. We have here a metaphor for the professional gambler/jugador profesional (Fernandez, p. 23).

The unlucky fish. Comment Eisenschmil provides a wonderful anecdote: The Greek king Polycrates, whose luck was proverbial, once was advised by a visiting philosopher to throw a costly ring into the ocean to appease the gods; but when at the next royal meal a fish was served, the ring turned up in the king's portion. A few hours later enemies landed on the island, killed the kind, and forever ended the reign of his dynasty.

Conocer las cosas en su punto, en su sazón, y saberlas lograr. 1Las obras de la naturaleza todas llegan al complemento de su perfección; 2hasta allí fueron ganando, desde allí perdiendo. 3Las del Arte, raras son las que llegan al no poderse mejorar. 4Es eminencia de un buen gusto gozar de cada cosa en su complemento: 5no todos pueden, ni los que pueden saben. 6Hasta en los frutos del entendimiento ai esse punto de madurez; 7importa conocerla para la estimación y el exercicio.

Knowing things at their best, in their prime, and knowing how to obtain them. 1The works of nature all arrive at the fullness of their perfection; 2until then they were winning, from then losing. 3Of works of Art, rare are those that reach a point at which they cannot be improved. 4It is eminence of a cultivated taste to enjoy each thing at its best: 5not everyone can, nor do those who can know how. 6Even in the fruits of understanding there is this point of maturity; 7it is important to recognize it in order to value it and use it.

Appreciate all things in their prime.

4 complemento - el lleno, cumplimiento y perfección de alguna cosa/the fullness, fullfillment, and perfection of some thing (Blanco, p. 124).

Gracia de las gentes. 1Mucho es conseguir la admiración común, pero más la afición; 2algo tiene de estrella, lo más de industria; 3comiença por aquélla y prosigue por ésta. 4No basta la eminencia de prendas, 5aunque se supone que es fácil de ganar el afecto, ganado el concepto. 6Requiérese, pues, para la venevolencia, la beneficencia: 7hazer bien a todas manos, buenas palabras y mejores obras, amar para ser amado. 8La cortesía es el mayor hechizo político de grandes personages. 9Hase de alargar la mano primero a las hazańas y después a las plumas, 10de la oja a las ojas, 11que ai gracia de Escritores, y es eterna.

Grace of the people. 1Much it is to obtain general admiration, but more to obtain affection; 2something it has of a star, the rest of effort; 3it begins with the former and continues with the latter. 4The eminence of one's qualities do not suffice, 5although it is assumed that it is easy to win affection having already won understanding. 6To be benevolent, then, one must be charitable: 7do well with all hands, good words and better deeds, love in order to be loved. 8Courtesy is the great political magic of great personages. 9One must first extend the hand to the achievements and then to the pens, 10from the blade to the pages, 11for there is a grace of Writers, and it is eternal.

Behave with grace and courtesy.
And live before you philosophize.

Title Gracia de las gentes - literally, "grace of the people." Some translate this as the "good will" of men or of people, Savage prefers "love of the people," and Walton chooses "popular favour." Like Maurer, I believe that "grace" is intended. Note that "gracia" is a multi-purpose word. When, for example, you hear que gracia tiene la nińa, the speaker could be referring to grace, elegance, wit, even having a gift for somethig. What the speaker would not be referring to, however, is good will.

1 afición - affection isn't quite it, but it suffices, particularly in light of what follows. Something like fondness, liking for, even love. Even "a following."

2 algo tiene de estrella - figuratively, inclinación, genio, suerte, destino/inclination, character, luck, destiny (Blanco, p. 125).

4 eminencia de prendas - note how often Gracián uses the term prendas, which is a much richer word than "qualities" or "gifts." Prendas are, in essence, everything that adorns a human being.

do la oja a las ojas 5 el concepto - in this context, el entendimiento, el juicio previo/the understanding, the prior judgment.

7 amar para ser amado - Seneca: Si vis amari, ama/If you wish to be loved, love.

Arthur Schopenhauer 9 alargar la mano primero a las hazańas y después a las plumas - from the Latin proverb, primum vivere, deinde philosophari/Live first, then philosophize, often attributed to Marcus Aurelius but also to Aristotle, later borrowed both by Kierkegaard and by Schopenhauer who, incidentally, was an ardent admirer of Gracián and went on to translate the Oráculo into German.

10 de la oja a las ojas - a beautiful play on words. From the hoja de la espada/blade of the sword to the hojas de un libro/leaves or pages of a book.

Nunca exagerar. 1Gran asunto de la atención, no hablar por superlativos, 2ya por no exponerse a ofender la verdad, 3ya por no desdorar su cordura. 4Son las exageraciones prodigalidades de la estimación, 5y dan indicio de la cortedad del conocimiento y del gusto. 6Despierta vivamente a la curiosidad la alabança, pica el deseo, 7y después, si no corresponde el valor al aprecio, como de ordinario acontece, 8rebuelve la expectación contra el engańo y despícase en el menosprecio de lo celebrado y del que celebró. 9Anda, pues, el cuerdo mui detenido, y quiere más pecar de corto que de largo. 10Son raras las eminencias: témplese la estimación. 11El encarecer es ramo de mentir, 12y piérdese en ello el crédito de buen gusto, que es grande, 13y el de entendido, que es mayor.

Never exaggerate. 1A matter of great importance, do not speak in superlatives, 2in part so as not to run the risk of offending truth, 3in part so as not to blemish truth's wisdom. 4Exaggerations are the wastebasket of value, 5and provide an indication of the paucity of understanding and taste. 6Praise vividly awakens curiosity, piques desire, 7and then, if the value does not correspond to the price, as ordinarily happens, 8expectation turns against deception and takes revenge by cheapening the celebrated and whoever celebrated it. 9Walks, then, the wise very slowly, and wants more to sin by understatement than by overstatement. 10he extraordinary is rare: temper your estimation. 11Raising the price is a branch of lying, 12and by doing so one loses the reputation for good taste, which matters, 13and for understanding, which matters more.

Don't exaggerate.

8 despícase - satisfacerse, vengarse de la ofensa/be satisfied, avenge an offense.

11 encarecer - to make something more expensive than it should be.

Del Natural Imperio. 1Es una secreta fuerça de superioridad. 2No ha de proceder del artificio enfadoso, sino de un imperioso natural. 3Sugétansele todos sin advertir el cómo, reconociendo el secreto vigor de la conatural autoridad. 4Son estos Genios seńoriles, 5Reyes por mérito y Leones por privilegio inato, 6que cogen el coraçón, y aun el discurso, a los demás, en fe de su respeto. 7Si las otras prendas favorecen, nacieron para primeros mobles políticos, 8porque executan más con un amago que otros con una proligidad.

Of the natural talent to command. 1It is a secret strength of superiority. 2It must not come from annoying trickery, but from a natural imperiousness. 3All subject themselves to it without knowing why, recognizing the secret vigor of innate authority. 4These are people of Character and nobility, 5Kings through merit and Lions through innate privilege, 6who capture the heart, and even the mind, of others, in faith of their respect. 7If their other qualities are favorable, they are born for the highest political posts, 8for they accomplish more with a brief word than others with endless babble.

Some are born to lead.

1 conatural - lo proprio o consiguiente a la naturaleza del hombre/one's own, or what follows from man's nature (Blanco, p. 126).

4 Genios seńoriles - another nearly impossible image. To be seńoril is to be stately, noble, classy in the modern parlance. It is of course from seńor/seńora/gentleman/gentlewoman, sir. Recall that Gracián uses the word genio to refer to character. Translators go in different directions on this. Savage writes "paramount geniuses"; Jacobs uses "magisterial spirits"; Walton writes "natural leaders are masterful characters': Fischer chooses "soverign spirits"; Lockley makes a peculiar choice with "forceful individuals"; Maurer takes the long route: "People like this have lordly character." I went the long route as well.

6 discurso - literally "speech" or "lecture." In this context, mind.

6 en fe de su respeto - only Savage and Fischer translates this phrase that others leave out. Savage writes "that makes them to be respected" and Fischer selects "through the faith they inspire." Literally, "in faith of their respect," and understandable that way on careful reflection.

7 mobles - movíl, as in motive.

8 proligidad - literally "in great detail." No reasonable translation is possible here. The idea is that some are able to accomplish more with a sigh than others with a long lecture. Jacobs, Walton, and Maurer use "long/lengthy harangue," but that seems so inelegant. I'm rather proud of "endless babble." I'm pretty sure Gracián would have said exactly that.

Sentir con los menos y hablar con los más. 1Querer ir contra el corriente es tan impossible al desengańo quanto fácil al peligro. 2Sólo un Sócrates podría emprenderlo. 3Tiénese por agravio el disentir, porque es condenar el juizio ageno. 4Multiplícanse los disgustados, ya por el sugeto censurado, ya del que lo aplaudía. 5La verdad es de pocos, el engańo es tan común como vulgar. 6Ni por el hablar en la plaza se ha de sacar el sabio, 7pues no habla allí con su voz, 8sino con la de la necedad común, por más que la esté desmintiendo su interior. 9Tanto huye de ser contradicho el cuerdo como de contradezir: 10lo que es pronto a la censura es detenido a la publicidad della. 11El sentir es libre, no se puede ni debe violentar; 12retírase al sagrado de su silencio; y si tal vez se permite, es a sombra de pocos y cuerdos.

Feeling with the few and talking with the many. 1Wanting to go against the current is as impossible for truth as it is easy for danger. 2Only a Socrates could undertake it. 3Dissenting is considered offensive, because it is to condemn the judgment of others. 4The offended multiply, here the one who is censured, there those who applauded him. 5Truth belongs to the few, deception is as common as it is vulgar. 6Not even to speak in the plaza should the wise take himself, 7for he does not speak there with his own voice, 8but with that of the common foolishness, for all that his inner self will deny this. 9The sensible individual flees as much from being contradicted as from contradicting: 10though he may be quick to censure, he is slow to advertise it. 11Dissenting is free, it cannot nor must it be violated; retire it to the sacredness of its own silence; 12and if at some time it be permitted, be it under the protection of the few and sensible.

Keep your censures to yourself and your intimates.

Title Sentir con los menos y hablar con los más - Seneca again: Intus omnia dissimilia sint; frons nostra populo conveniat. Did I forget to mention that Seneca also was Spanish? From Cordoba.

The Death of Socrates, by David 2 Sólo un Sócrates podría emprenderlo - the key word here is emprenderlo rather than succeed at it, as it bears remembering that Socrates lost his life precisely because of this. Even Gracián was unsuccessful in going against the current of his own time. After publishing his works without permission, he was censured publicly, removed from his Sacred Chair in Zaragoza, sent to the country town of Graus, and punished to a diet of bread and water for a year. If you astutely noted at the top of this document that the author of the Oráculo was Lorenzo Gracián rather than Baltasar, this was because he published his works under pseudonym to escape censure from the Jesuit Order and from higher authorities.

11 El sentir - literally, "feeling," and that is what Maurer translates. Jacobs, Walton, Fischer, and Lockley prefer "thought" and "thinking," respectively. Savage selects "opinion." Sentir (see 6th definition of the Real Academia - juzgar, opinar, formar parecer o dictamen) also carries the meaning of "judging," "opining," and "expressing a point of view" and, given Gracián's admonitions, it seems clear that this is closer to the meaning implied in this passage. However, what Gracián asks us to retire to the sacredness of its silence is not thought or feeling, but rather dissenting thought and feeling. Thoughts and feelings that are in accord with prevailing "currents" would not fall under this injunction. Consequently, in this context, it is "dissenting" that is free and that should be either silenced or reserved for intimates.

12 sombra - in this context, "under the protection of."

Sympatía con los Grandes varones. 1Prenda es de Héroe el convinar con Héroes: 2prodigio de la naturaleza por lo oculto y por lo ventajoso. 3Ai parentesco de coraçones, y de genios, 4y son sus efetos los que la ignorancia vulgar achaca bevediços. 5No para en sola estimación, 6que adelanta benevolencia, y aun llega a propensión: 7persuade sin palabras, y consigue sin méritos. 8Aila activa, y la ai pasiva; una y otra felizes, quanto más sublimes. 9Gran destreza el conocerlas, distinguirlas y saberlas lograr, 10que no ai porfía que baste sin este favor secreto.

Camaraderie with great men. 1It is a quality of Heroes to consort with Heroes: 2a wonder of nature because of its mystery and because of its advantage. 3There is parentage of hearts, and of characters, 4and vulgar ignorance attributes its effects to magic potions. 5It does not stop at merely granting reputation, 6which advances benevolence, and even reaches propensity: 7persuades without words, and achieves without merits. 8There is one that is active, and one that is passive; one and each are happy the more they are sublime. 9Great skill to recognize them, distinguish them and know how to achieve them, 10for there is no effort that will suffice without this secret favor.

Consort with people of character and good will.

Title Sympatía - in this context, amistad y comformidad/friendship and acceptance.

As wonderful as the Oráculo Title Héroe - literally "hero," of course. Gracián wrote a treatise entitled El Héroe, published in 1637 (four years before the Oráculo). In it, he expounds on the qulities required to reach "heroism" in any human endeavor as well as to govern one's self. It was meant as an antidote to Machiavelli's Prince which, joked Gracián, was better suited to help governing "a stable than a state" (Maurer, A Pocke Mirror for Heroes, p. xx).

1 convinar - concordar/from concordance, to agree.

4 achaca bevediços - achaca a/attribute to bebedizos/magic potion.

8 Aila - hay la/there is.

8 Aila activa, y la ai pasiva - Maurer writes: "Fracián's meaning is not entirely clear. Romera-Navarro believes 'active sympathy' is that which elicites similar feelings in others, and 'passive' that which does not" (p. 25).

Usar, no abusar, de las reflexas. 1No se han de afectar, menos dar a entender. 2Toda arte se ha de encubrir, que es sospechosa, y más la de cautela, que es odiosa. 3Úsase mucho el engańo; 4multiplíquese el rezelo, sin darse a conocer, que ocasionaría la desconfiança; 5mucho desobliga y provoca a la vengança, 6despierta el mal que no se imaginó. 7La reflexión en el proceder es gran ventaja en el obrar: 8no ai mayor argumento del discurso. 9La mayor perfección de las acciones está afiançada del seńorío con que se executan.

Using, not abusing, hidden intentions. 1They should not be affected, much less made known. 2All art should be concealed, for it is suspect, and more the art of cunning, which is odious. 3Deception is much in use; 4multiply your suspicion, without letting it be known, for this would result in mistrust; 5much deception disobliges and provokes vengeance, 6awakens the evil that was not imagined. 7Reflection on the process is a great advantage in the action: 8there is no bigger point to the speech. 9The highest perfection in our actions depends on the nobility with which they are carried out.

Beware of your deceptions.
And of how you react to those of others.

Title reflexas - cautelas, segundas intenciones/cautions, second intentions, i.e., second thoughts. Review aforismo 13 above.

8 argumento del discurso - literally "argument of the discourse"; logic/reasoning of the work.

Corregir su Antipatía. 1Solemos aborrecer de grado, y aun antes de las previstas prendas. 2Y tal vez se atreve esta inata vulgarizante aversión a los varones eminentes. 3Corríjala la cordura, que no ai peor descrédito que aborrecer a los mejores: 4lo que es de ventaja la simpatía con Héroes es de desdoro la antipatía.

Correct your antipathy. 1We tend to abhor without reason, even before exercising judgment. 2And sometimes this innate and vulgar aversion dares itself on eminent men. 3Correct it with common sense, for there is no worse discredit than abhorring good people: 4the advantage that camaraderie with Heroes provides is damaged by antipathy.

Correct your impulse to hate someone.

Comment This aphorism should be read with number 44.

1 de grado -gratuitamente, sin fundamento (Morena-Navarro, p. 101).

1 antes de las previstas prendas - antes de juzgar/before judging. Pelegrin notes that the theology of the Jesuits exige el juicio previo antes de sentenciar/requires prior judgment before sentencing (p. 208; and see Blanco, p. 128).

4 desdoro - menoscabo en la reputación, fama o prestigio/damage to reputation, fame, or prestige. Real Academia definition.

William Pitt 4 de desdoro - Blanco suggests reading this as desdoro de. But it makes sense to me as written.

Comment From Eisenschiml: William Pitt, prime minister of Englans, once was conversing with one of his guests, when the latter suddenly offered him an apology.
"But we have just met," Pitt remarked in surprise.
"That is just it, sir," said the visitor, "I want to apologize for what I thought of you before we had met each other."

Huir los Empeńos. 1Es de los primeros assuntos de la prudencia. 2En las grandes capacidades siempre ai grandes distancias hasta los últimos trances: 3ai mucho que andar de un extremo a otro, 4y ellos siempre se están en el medio de su cordura; 5llegan tarde al rompimiento, 6que es más fácil hurtarle el cuerpo a la ocasión que salir bien della. 7Son tentaciones de juizio, más seguro el huirlas que el vencerlas. 8Trae un empeńo otro mayor, 9y está mui al canto del despeńo. 10Ai hombres ocasionados por genio, y aun por nación, 11fáciles de meterse en obligaciones; 12pero el que camina a la luz de la razón siempre va mui sobre el caso: 13estima por más valor el no empeńarse que el vencer, 14y ya que haya un necio ocasionado, escusa que con él no sean dos.

Fleeing from stubborn mindsets. 1It is one of the first orders of business for prudence. 2In those of great capacity there are always great distances until the final junctures: 3it is a long walk from one extreme to another, 4and they always remain at the center of their good sense; 5they come late to a decision to act, 6for it is easier avoid a risky situation than to come out of it well. 7Mindsets are temptations of judgment, safer to flee from them than to overcome them. 8One mindset brings forth an even stronger one, 9and it lives very near ruin. 10There are people poorly conditioned by character, and even by nation, 11who easily get into obligations; 12but whoever walks toward the truth of reason is always on top of things: 13he finds it braver not to become set on an action than to win, 14and should there be a fool such engaged, reasons that with him it will not be two.

Don't be obstinate about a course of action.

Title Empeńos - Blanco suggests dificultades o polémicas/difficulties or polemics, controversies. Literally, an empeńo is something that one has determined to do and will not be talked out of: Esta empeńado en hacer eso/he's dead set on doing that. It should be understood to have a sense of obstinacy and resolve about it. "Dead set" would be a reasonable understanding, as in "He's dead set on doing that, so don't try to talk him out of it." From the Academia Real: Deseo vehemente de hacer o conseguir algo/vehement desire to do or achieve something. Savage translates this word as "engagements"; Jacobs and Fischer select "affairs of honor"; Walton writes "obligations"; Lockley translates this as "Do not obligate yourself or accept another's debt"; Maurer prefers "committing yourself to risky enterprises. So, what is the English word for "dead set on doing something"? I think "stubborn mindsets" (as in when your mind is set on some thing or some course of action) captures the meaning, as would "stubborn desires."

5 rompimiento - resolverse a la ejecucioón de alguna cosa que se tenía dificultad/resolve oneself to the execution of whatever difficult thing (Asun, p. 157).

6 hurtarle el cuerpo a la ocasión - one of those impossible translations; hurtarle el cuerpo, literally "steal the body." What we have here is "robbing the body from the occasion." Metaphorically, avoiding a difficulty in the ocasión, which can be understood as peligro o riesgo/danger or risk. That is, avoiding a risky situation.

9 mui al canto - sigh. Literally, "very to the song," or "very near the song." To be near.

9 despeńo - Writes Blanco, metaphóricamente se toma por la ruina que alguno padece en el espíritu, honra o fama/metaphorically it is understood as the ruin that someone experiences in the spirit, honor, or fame (p. 128).

10 ocasionado - Also Blanco, provocativo, molesto y mal acondicionado, que por su natural y genio da fácilmente cause a desazones y ruinas/provocative, uncomfortable, and poorly conditioned, that for one's own nature and character gives cause to uneasiness/anxiety and ruin (p. 128). Note that this interpretation is at odds with how translators typically interpret this sentence. Here is Jacobs: "There are mem so constituted by nature or by nation that they easily enter upon such obligations." Other translators interpret this passage consistent with Blanco's suggestion (e.g., Maurer: "Some people are rash, because of their temperament or ...).

13 estima por más valor - a tough one. Could be read as "esteems as having greater value" or "esteems as braver." Given the ending of "winning," perhaps the second is best.

Hombre con fondos, tanto tiene de persona. 1Siempre ha de ser otro tanto más lo interior que lo exterior en todo. 2Ai sugetos de sola fachata, como casas por acabar, porque faltó el caudal: 3tienen la entrada de palacio, y de choza la habitación. 4No ai en estos donde parar, o todo para, 5porque, acabada la primera salutación, acabó la conversación. 6Entran por las primeras cortesías como cavallos Sicilianos, 7y luego paran en silenciarios, que se agotan las palabras donde no ai perenidad de concepto. 8Engańan éstos fácilmente a otros, que tienen también la vista superficial; 9pero no a la astucia, que, como mira por dentro, 10los halla vaciados para ser fábula de los Discretos.

Man of depth, such is he a person. 1The interior should always count for more in everything than the exterior. 2There are people of single facade, like houses unfinished, for lack of means: 3they have the entrance of a palace, and the bedroom of a shack. 4There is nothing in them on which to pause, or everything pauses, 5because, as ends the first greeting, so ends the conversation. 6They enter with first courtesies like Sicilian horses, 7and soon they stop in long silences, for words dry up where there is no spring of thoughts. 8Such people easily deceive others, who also see things superficially; 9but they do not deceive shrewdness, for, as she looks inside, 10finds them empty so as to become a fable of the Discreet.

Be a person of depth.

Title fondos - Morena-Navarro suggests brillos interiores y profundos/profound and interior brillance.

2 el caudal - has a double meaning. Typically, wealth and riches, the goods in a home. But also capacity, judgment, understanding, and richness of wisdom. See 49 below.

Sicilian horse - Armeria Real, Madrid. 6 cavallos Sicilianos - Sicilian horses famous for their strength, high spirit, and armor. It could bear the weight of a fully armored knight at a time when a battle horse's strength was often more important than a lighter horse's speed. It was for this reason that the Normans in Italy, following the example of the Visigoths in Spain, made use of this breed favored by the Moors. Norman knights who fought at England's Battle of Hastings in 1066 likely rode Arabians of Sicilian stock.

7 silenciarios - persona que guarda y observa much or continuo silencio/person who guards and observes much or continuous silence (Blanco, p. 129). Fernandez: quienes se ocupan de hacer guardar el silencio en un templo/those in charge of keeping silence in a temple (p. 29). This is a common post in monasteries.

Aesop's fables. 10 fábula - Blanco and Maurer suggest that this refers to Aesop's fable #43: An archer aimed at an eagle and let loose an arrow. The eagle was struck and as he turned and looked at the shaft which was tipped with his own feathers, he said, "Many are betrayed by the very things that they themselves have wrought." Get the point?

Hombre juicioso y notante. 1Seńoréase él de los objectos, no los objectos dél. 2Sonda luego el fondo de la mayor profundidad; 3sabe hazer anotomía de un caudal con perfección. 4En viendo un personaje, le comprehende y lo censura por essencia. 5De raras observaciones, gran desçifrador de la más recatada interioridad. 6Nota acre, concibe sutil, infiere juicioso: 7todo lo descubre, advierte, alcança y comprehende.

Judicious and observant man. 1Master is he of the objects, and not the objects of him. 2He sounds at once the bottom of the profoundest depths; 3knows how to dissect value with perfection. 4On seeing someone, he comprehends him and judges his essence. 5After few observations, great decipherer of the most private secrets. 6Observes rigorously, conceives subtly, infers judiciously: 7discovers, realizes, reaches and comprehends all.

Pay attention.

2 luego - In modern parlance, luego is used to signify "afterwards" or "later," as in ya te veré luego/I'll see you later. Gracián typically uses luego to mean al instante, sin dilación, prontamente/immediately, without delay, promptly (Blanco, p. 102).

3 hazer anotomía de un caudal - Asun suggests examinar la valía/examine the value (p. 158). The word anotomía/anatomy should be understood as el estudio de lo intimo/the study of the íntimate (Pelegrin, p. 209). The metaphor is a lovely one: to understand the anatomy of all worth; to be able to dissect value. There is a feeling here of cutting to the core, getting to the heart of the matter. Jacobs translates this lovely metaphor as "he is a phrenologist by means of physiognomy." And you didn't think we needed a new translation.

6 Nota acre - Blanco suggests that this may carry the meaning of vehemente, fuerte/vehement, strong and not the typical agrio y mordaz/sour and biting (p. 130). Romera-Navarro suggests riguroso/rigorous, strict (p. 107).

Nunca perderse el respeto a sí mismo. 1Ni se roze consigo a solas. 2Sea su misma entereza norma propria de su rectitud, 3y deva más a la severidad de su dictamen que a todos los extrínsecos preceptos. 4Dexe de hazer lo indecente más por el temor de su cordura que por el rigor de la agena autoridad. 5Llegue a temerse, y no necessitará del ayo imaginario de Séneca.

Never lose self-respect. 1Do not even brush against yourself when you are alone. 2Let the strength of your own character be the self-standard of your rectitude, 3and owe more to the severity of your self-judgment than to all extrinsic precepts. 4Avoid what is indecent more out of fear for your good sense than because of the severity of outside authority. 5Come to fear yourself, and you will not need the imaginary guardianship of Seneca.

Do not lose your self-respect.

5 ayo imaginario de Séneca - according to Romera-Navarro, consciensce itself. An ayo is a child's guardian. According to the Academia Real, persona encargada en las casas principales de custodiar nińos o jóvenes y de cuidar de su crianza y educación./the person charged in stately homes with the custody of children and youth and to care for their upbringing and education. It is from this word that children get yaya or nanny.