Baltasar Gracian

"Dreams will get you nowhere, a good kick in the pants will take you a long way."

"He that can live alone resembles the brute beast in nothing, the sage in much, and God in everything."

"He that communicates his secret to another makes himself that other's slave."

"Know or listen to those who know."

"Let him that hath no power of patience retire within himself, though even there he will have to put up with himself."

"Never contend with a man who has nothing to lose."

"Never do anything when you are in a temper, for you will do everything wrong."

"Respect yourself if you would have others respect you."

"The wise does at once what the fool does at last."

"To be at ease is better than to be at business. Nothing really belongs to us but time, which even he has who has nothing else."

"Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit."