Sub-titled 'Classic Advice on How to Live Well' the book was written by the 17th century Spanish Jesuit scholar Baltasar Gracián and is considered a classic text for those seeking a philosophy for life. The 300 maxims with accompanying commentary provide a world view that encourages ethical behaviour when seeking worldly success. It covers luck, never exaggerating, know how to withdraw, know your strongest point, thinking things over, keeping the imagination under control, know how to take a hint, vary the mode of action, cultivate those who can teach you, fortune and fame, character and intellect and more. This Jospeh Jacobs translation has used the text of the first Madrid edition of 1653, the earliest in the British Museum with the Schopenhauer version by the translator's side. 'I have endeavoured to reproduce Gracián's laconism and cultismo in my version, and even tried to retain as many paronomasias and jingles of similar sound.' And wherever possible he has replaced Spanish proverbs with English ones. He advises to dip into up to 50 maxims a day for everyday insight. 128pp, new full price paperback.
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