The Art of Worldly Wisdom

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The courtier's oracle, or, The art of prudence, 1694 translation.

The Art of Worldly Wisdom (Spanish: Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia) is a book written in 1647 by Baltasar Gracián y Morales, better known as Baltasar Gracian.[1] It is a collection of 300 maxims, each with a commentary, on various topics giving advice and guidance on how to live fully, advance socially, and be a better person, that became popular throughout Europe.[2]

Title page of The Art of Worldly Wisdom

It was translated by Joseph Jacobs (London and New York City, Macmillan and co., 1892.[3] Other editions are also available from:

  • Nayika, 2009, ISBN 978-0-955-95831-1; edited with a light commentary/footnotes
  • Shambhala Publications, 2004, ISBN 1-59030141-2
  • Christopher Maurer (Doubleday) 1992
  • Dover Publications, 2005, ISBN 0-48644034-6
  • Google Books as a free digital edition via partnership with Princeton University Library

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gracian, Baltasar (2010-11-10). The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A Pocket Oracle. Crown. ISBN 978-0-307-75697-8.
  2. ^ Selig, Karl-Ludwig (1958). "Some Remarks on Gracian's Literary Taste and Judgments". Homenaje a Gracián, 1958, págs. 155-162. Institución "Fernando el Católico": 155–162.
  3. ^ See Gracian, Balthasar (1892). The Art of Worldly Wisdom (1 ed.). London: Macmillan. Retrieved 18 October 2015. via Internet Archive

External links[edit]