31 - Find Favor with Men of Sense - The Art of Worldly Wisdom - Baltasar Gracian

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Find favor with men of sense. The tepid yes of
a remarkable man is worth more than all the applause
of the vulgar. You cannot make a meal off the
smoke of chaff. The why speak with understanding, and their
praise gives permanent satisfaction. The sage Antigonus reduced the theater

(00:21):
of his fame to Zeus alone, and Plato called Aristotle
his whole school. Some strive to fill their stomach, albeit
only with the breath of the mob. Even monarchs have
need of authors, and fear their pens more than ugly women.
The Painter's Pencil two hundred eighty two. Make use of

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absence to make yourself more esteemed or valued. If the
accustomed presence diminishes, fame, absence augments it. One that is
regarded as a lion in his absence may be laughed
at when present as the ridiculous result of the parturition
of the mountains. Talents get soiled by use, for it

(01:05):
is easier to see the exterior rind than the kernel
of greatness it encloses. Imagination reaches farther than sight, and disillusion,
which ordinarily comes through the ears, also goes out through
the ears. He keeps his fame that keeps himself in
the center of public opinion. Even the phoenix uses its

(01:26):
retirement for new adornment and turns absence into desire. Two
hundred and eighty three. Have the gift of discovery. It
is a proof of the highest genius. Yet when was
genius without a touch of madness. If discovery be a
gift of genius, choice of means is a mark of

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sound sense. Discovery comes by special grace, and very seldom.
For many can follow up a thing when found, but
to find it first is the gift of the few,
and those the fur first. In excellence and in age,
novelty flatters, and if successful, gives the possessor double credit.
In matters of judgment. Novelties are dangerous because leading to

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paradox in matters of genius, they deserve all praise, yet
both equally deserve applause if successful two hundred and eighty four.
Do not be importunate, and so you will not be slighted.
Respect yourself. If you would have others respect, you, be
sooner sparing than lavish with your presence. You will thus

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become desired and so well received. Never come unasked, and
only go when sent. For if you undertake a thing
of your own accord, you get all the blame if
it fails, none of the thanks if it succeeds. The
importunate is always the butt of blame. And because he
thrusts himself in without any shame, he is thrust out

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with it to hunt. Eighty five. Never die of another's
ill luck. Notice those who stick in the mud, and
observe how they call others to their aid so as
to console themselves with a companion. In misfortune, they seek
someone to help them to bear misfortune, And often those

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who turned the cold shoulder on them in prosperity give
them now a helping hand. There is great caution needed
in helping the drowning without danger to one's self. Two
hundred and eighty six. Do not become responsible for all
or for every one. Otherwise you become a slave, and

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the slave of all. Some are born more fortunate than others.
They are born to do good, as others to receive it.
Freedom is more precious than any gifts for which you
may be tempted to give it up. Lay less stress
on making many dependent on you than on keeping yourself
independent of any The sole advantage of power is that

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you can do more good. Above all, do not regard
responsibility as a favor, for generally it is another's plan
to make one dependent on him. Two hundred eighty seven.
Never act in a passion. If you do, all is lost.
You cannot act for yourself if you are not yourself,

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and passion always drives out reason. In such cases, interpose
a prudent go between, who can only be prudent if
he keeps cool. That is why lookers on see most
of the game, because they keep cool. As soon as
you notice that you are losing your temper, beat a
wise retreat, for no sooner is the blood up than

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it is spilt. And in a few moments occasion may
be given for many days repentance for oneself and complaints
of the other party. Two hundred eighty eight. Live for
the moment, Our acts and thoughts, and all must be
determined by circumstances. Will when you may for time and

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tide wait for no man. Do not live by certain
fixed rules, except those that relate to the cardinal virtues,
nor let your will subscribe fixed conditions. For you may
have to drink the water tomorrow which you cast away
to day. There may be some so absurdly paradoxical that
they expect all the circumstances of an action should bend

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to their eccentric whims, and not vice versa. The wise
man knows that the very pole star of prudence lies
in steering by the wind two hundred and eighty nine.
Nothing depreciates a man more than to show he is
a man like other men. The day he is seen

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to be very human, he ceases to be thought divine.
Frivolity is the exact opposite of reputation. And as the
reserved are held to be more than men, so the
frivolous are held to be less. No failing causes such
failure of respect, for frivolity is the exact opposite of
solid seriousness. A man of levity cannot be a man

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of weight, even when he is old, and age should
oblige him to be prudent. Although this blemish is so common,
it is nonetheless despised two hundred and ninety tis a
piece of good fortune to combine man's love and respect. Generally,

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one dare not be liked if one would be respected.
Love is more sensitive than hate. Love and honor do
not go well together, so that one should aim neither
to be much feared nor much loved. Love introduces confidence,
and the further this advances, the more respect recedes. Prefer

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to be loved with respect rather than with passion, for
that is a love suitable for many. End of Section
thirty one.