The courtiers manual oracle, or, The art of prudence written originally in Spanish by Baltazar Gracian, and now done into English.

About this Item

Title: The courtiers manual oracle, or, The art of prudence written originally in Spanish by Baltazar Gracian, and now done into English.
Author: Gracián y Morales, Baltasar, 1601-1658.
Publication: London :: Printed by M. Flesher, for Abel Swalle ...,; 1685.
Rights/Permissions: To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Subject terms: Courts and courtiers.; Maxims.
Link to this Item: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A41733.0001.001
Cite this Item: "The courtiers manual oracle, or, The art of prudence written originally in Spanish by Baltazar Gracian, and now done into English." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A41733.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 19, 2025.

Pages

MAXIME CLV.

The Art of restraining Passions.

Let a prudent reflexion prevent, if it be possible, the usual transports of the vulgar. That will be no difficult thing to a prudent man. The first step to mo∣deration, is to perceive that we are fal∣ling into passion. By that means we en∣ter the lists with a full power over our selves, and may examine how far it is necessary to give way to our resentment. With that swaying reflexion, we may be angry, and put a stop to it as we please. Strive to know where and when it is fit to stop. For it is the hardest thing in running to stop upon the spot. It is a great mark of judgment to stand firm and undisturbed amidst the Sallies of pas∣sion. Every excess of passion degene∣rates from reason. But with this ma∣gisterial

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circumspection, Reason will ne∣ver be disordered, nor transgress the bounds of its duty. To be able to de∣vour a passion, we must always hold the reins fast. He who governs himself in this manner, will be reckoned the wisest man; as the foolishest if he do otherwise.