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The Art of Worldly Wisdom (Shambhala Library)

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THE ART OF WORLDLY WISDOM. Adapted from the translation by JOSEPH JACOBS. Unabridged. Shambhala Pocket Classics. 283 pp. Boston & London : Shambhala, 1993. ISBN 0-87773-921-8 (pbk.)

Balthasar Gracian's 'The Art of Worldly Wisdom' is a collection of 300 brief maxims, most of which take up only a single page or less of this small book. His maxims teach us the art of getting along in the world.

Gracian must have been a singularly wise person. Those who are lucky enough to discover his book before making all the major mistakes of their lives should count themselves very lucky, because what the author sets out to do is to teach us, in a very clear and easy-to-understand way, how to avoid all those dumb mistakes.

You can open this book at any page and, if you are young, find out what you most definitely shouldn't (or should) be doing. And if you are old you will probably find yourself reading about all the things in your life that you shouldn't (or should) have done, and that you wouldn't (or would) have done if there had been someone as wise as Gracian around to advise you - and _if_ you had followed their advice.

Here, chosen at random, are a few of his maxims : 83. Allow yourself some forgiveable sin. 141. Do not listen to yourself. 250. When to turn the conversation around. 252. Neither belong entirely to yourself nor entirely to others. 3. Keep matters for a time in suspense. 36. Before acting or refraining, weigh your luck. 69. Do not give way to every common impulse. 195. Put up with fools. 262. Be able to forget.

Each of these maxims is fully developed and explained in the text which follows the maxim, and you are going to be amazed that anyone could have figured out so much. A handy complete list of the maxims is given on pages 261-81.

Physically, the Shambhala Pocket Classic Edition of 'The Art of Worldly Wisdom' is an attractive book, and at just 7.5 cm by 11.5 cm is small enough to fit into the smallest purse or pocket. It is well-printed, in two colors, on excellent paper, is sturdily bound in stiff decorative wraps, and is even stitched.

So if you think it's time you got your act straightened out, let Gracian show you how. You'd be hard put to find better counsel than his.

There is absolutely nothing in life harder than trying to remain a good and honorable man while at the same time living in society and trying to get something done. To do so is to constantly walk a razor's edge. That is why saints and holy men tend to gravitate to monesteries and mountains.

I would not describe this so much as a spiritual book as I would an honorable one. That's why you need to be careful- there is a thin line between honor and ego. There is also an inherent problem in trying to live according to hard and fast lists. As Lao Tzu tells us, when the Tao grows weak in the heart of men and nations, that is where "morality" and rule books begin. Still, as a source of practical principles on how to remain in the world and remain good, you could do far worse. Schopenhauer put great store in it and that is good enough for me. Also, I recall reading that George Washington carried in his pocket a small book of maxims written by a Jesuit for most of his life. I suspect that this is the book.

By the way, I am recommending this book INSPITE of the fact that it was written by a Jesuit, and not because of it. I should think Machiavelli would be much closer to their "hearts"....

This small gem of a book ranks with Montaigne's Essays in terms of density of practical reason and reflection culled from a lifetime of what must have been pretty intense experiences. Gracian does not moralize -- he is one of those charcters in history who taught Nietzsche the idea of morals beyond good and evil. Gracian does not hand you formulas for success or self-improvement, as such. He merely shows you the psychology of human beings when placed in various situations, and ways to avoid stepping on doo-doo. In that sense, this book is sort of the European version of Sun-Tze's The Art of War but seemingly easier to approach if only by reason of proximity of cultural sensibilty. Message? "A well-lived life in the world of men is to be had in avoiding getting damaged and damaging others over petty things WHILE maximizing your leverage toward realizing your ambitions. Don't let vanity and ego cloud your judgement." The great book that it is, it has something to say to everyone in every station in life.

I have read this book many many times, and have given a copy of it to each of my adult children. It contains common sense wisdom to help one deal with almost anything that comes along. If I would have only had read it when I was in my twenties, how much easier life would have been.However, I have no complaints. I am happy to have found it when I did, and life is so much better now. This Jesuit Priest (the author) had insights in the 17th Century that apply to virtually everything in today's modern world. With the exception of the Bible, this book contains more wisdom than anything I have ever read.

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A very small book--literally the size of a credit card, and only half an inch thick--of three-hundred maxims, covering practically all of the wisdom one needs to go through life. Each maxim covering less than a tiny page, often only half. (The size of THIS PARTICULAR EDITION is NOT meant to make one feel cheated of what one paid for. It IS meant to be COMPACT, to carry in the pocket or bag, for frequent reference, in brief quiet moments. There are hardcover versions around.)

Originally written in Spanish in 1637 by a Jesuit scholar, it has been translated into eight European languages. This one translated by another scholar and literary critic named Joseph Jacobs, who also collected folklores (including English and Celtic fairy tales, as well as the fables of Aesop).
This particular translation is known to preserve Gracian's epigrammatic style, including his word plays and puns, albeit later updated where necessary due to being unclear and/or dated in grammar and syntax, and revised in comparison with other known English versions.

In contrast to Machiavelli, who put CRUDE REALITY into words, Gracian is more on the side of a little IDEALISM and NOBILITY in living one's life. Which is not to say he aims for ASPHYXIA; much is given to living a happy life, part of which is giving oneself a break and a breather.

[NEGATIVE] A few maxims are of limited use for its obviousness--in essence, "sometimes go left, sometimes go right". (Uhm, aren't those ALL of the very choices from which one must pick? And doesn't EVERYBODY ALREADY know that.) The wisdom of everything else in the book in nonetheless undiminished.

The brevity (not concise; some maxims are translated rather long-windedly) of the maxims does not mean that they are to be read as many in one stretch. After all, the benefits only start when wisdom is absorbed and lived out. Best to read through a dozen at most at a time; re-read and re-read, giving each time to sink into the heart and mind; only then move onto the next dozen or two.

Quite ENLIGHTENING. Worth keeping one copy of. Or perhaps two--a hardcover edition, too, in one's library, work desk, coffee table or reception room . . . for anyone who might walk in or anyone being made to wait, and who could use the time literally wisely.
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Many personal insights and borrowed nuggets of wisdom come back in alienated majesty through this book. By far, more deep than many in its genre and definitely more wide in treatment than most.

If you like The Prophet (Gibran) or The Prince (Macchiavelli), than this book is definitively for you. It is even better. It was written some 300 years ago, but it defies time. The wisdom contained is so reel, so human, that anybody who cares to improve himself must read. This little book is worth all the books of contemporary "gurus", Stephen Covey at al., combined.

...and it is adequately tied all together in Wisdom #300, 'In one word, be a saint'...pursue being virtuous, rather than divine, because in virtue can be found perfection...

Adopted from Jacobs' translation of Gracian's original 1637 AD work, like the editors of this Shambhala Pocket Classic says, this "is no handbook of Machiavellian strategems on how to exercise power for one's own narrow purpose"--Gracian says, "The sole advantage of power, is that you can do more good", and the development of the right type of power, ennobles and perfects the person.

This is quite a compelling goal even for those of us who find ourselves just floundering around in a new century...

The Art of Worldly Wisdom is one of my favorite books. It was written in the 1600s and contains 300 maxims in paragraph form. All you have to do is to open the book to the back where you will find a listing of the maxims. For instance, #192 is "A peaceful life is a long life." and #148 is "Have the art of conversation." Then turn to the appropriate page for your lesson in full. It's a tiny book that will amaze you with the amount of brilliance it contains. It's a book that will fit in your pocket and help you through life. I hope you'll love it as much I do.

I own this book and read it over a prolonged period. You cannot read this book in 2-3 days; you have to sip it slowly like a good, calm dessert wine.

The language is strange at first and the aphorisms take a while to get used to, however once you grow an appetite for this type of writing, you quickly realize that good writers transgress time/civilizations.

His aphorisms are all applicable today not simply because they are nebulous but because they speak to the ways of the world in the context of global civilization and is agnostic to time.

Hope this helps.

-Richie Etwaru