Baltasar Gracian Quotes

He has missed the finest lesson of culture and experience who has not learned how to enjoy without owning.

Many of the things that bring delight should not be owned. They are more enjoyed if another's, than if yours; the first day they give pleasure to the owner, but in all the rest to the others: what belongs to another rejoices doubly, because it is without the risk of going stale and with the satisfaction of freshness. . . the possession of things not only diminishes their enjoyment, but augments their annoyance, whether shared or not shared.

The more you own, the more you know you don't own.

I like the joy when you feed people and they're happy and full and enjoying themselves.

Possession without obligation to the object possessed approaches felicity.

You know what? Joy is the only guide. I'm going to have fun regardless.

Complete possession is proved only by giving. All you are unable to give possesses you.

There is nothing more universally commended than a fine day; the reason is that people can commend it without envy.

You just have to enjoy what you're doing. You just never know how people are going to receive it.

You've got to introduce people to things in a way they're going to enjoy.

To Dare is to risk losing your foothold for a moment, Not to Dare is to risk losing yourself.

Our days weave together the simple pleasures of daily life, which we should never take for granted, and the higher pleasures of Art and Thought which we may now taste as we please, with none to forbid or criticise.

Other people's things are more pleasing to us, and ours to other people. -Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent

Resolve to treat the things in your possession as belonging to others.

Possession hinders enjoyment. It merely gives you the right to keep things for or from others, and thus you gain more enemies than friends.

It's not hard to own something. Or everything. You just have to know that it's yours, and then be willing to let it go.

Beauty has nothing to do with possession. If possession and beauty must go together, then we are lost souls. A beautiful flower is not to be possessed, it's there to be beheld. … It's there for your pleasure.

A gourmet knows that the best part is not always the expensive part, and he will find that part, and then he will share it. A gourmet should want to share.

Of all the teachings we receive, this one is most important: Nothing belongs to you of what there is, of what you take, you must share.

We truly possess only what we are able to renounce; otherwise, we are simply possessed by our possessions.

You must not know too much or be too precise or scientific about birds and trees and flowers and watercraft; a certain free-margin , or even vagueness - ignorance, credulity - helps your enjoyment of these things.

Nothing seems interesting when it belongs to you, only when it doesn't.

But that's how it is when you start wanting to have things. Now, I just look at them, and when I go away I carry them in my head. Then my hands are always free, because I don't have to carry a suitcase.

What I want is not to want what isn't mine

I ask you, what is the use of having your "cake" if you can't eat it? What exactly are you supposed to do with it? Put it on your mantel and look at it? Cake is meant to be eaten and enjoyed.