Rest Day Read September 3, 2010

Rest Day Read (SR-45)
from Balthasar Gracian's "The Art of Wordly Wisdom"
Aphorism #292
Let your personal Qualities surpass those of your Office, Let it not be the other way about. How-ever high the post, the person should be higher. An extensive capacity expands and dilates more and more as his office becomes higher. On the other hand, the narrow-minded will easily lose heart and come to grief with diminished responsibilities and reputation. The great Augustus thought more of being a great man than a great prince. Here a lofty mind finds fit place, and well-grounded confidence finds its opportunity.

Who is Balthasar Gracian you ask?
Well to quote the daily email nugget of "worldly wisdom" that I subscribe to;
"In the 1600s, Balthasar Gracian, a Jesuit priest, wrote 300 aphorisms on living life effectively called "The Art of Worldly Wisdom." The book stays relevent to modern day society and has been used such as Machiavelli's "The Prince" or Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" as a guidebook for everything from business to sports.
In a nutshell, one smart SOB. The daily shot of wisdom always seems to be sent to me just at the right time. Feel a little cocky? Here's one to bring you back to earth. Feel a little beat down? Here's one to pick you up. Always great stuff from a very wise man.