"It is a common failure of the highly praised that it does not live up to the expectations placed on it. Reality is never equal to the idea, because it is easy to ascribe perfection to ourselves in thought, but it is difficult to achieve it. Imagination is associated with desire and always assumes more about things than reality. No matter how great the excellent qualities are, they cannot compete with their imagination, and since they deceive exaggerated expectations, they cause disillusionment rather than admiration. Hope is a great counterfeiter of truth. Let cleverness help you out of trouble, and arrange it so that pleasure is greater than desire. Some advance loans are suitable for arousing curiosity, but do not obligate you to anything. You are better off when the reality surpasses the imagination.
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Author
Baltasar GraciánAll Translations
All Translations
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It is a common failure of the highly praised that it does not live up to the expectations placed on it. Reality is never equal to the idea, because it is easy to ascribe perfection to ourselves in thought, but it is difficult to achieve it. Imagination is associated with desire and always assumes more about things than reality. No matter how great the excellent qualities are, they cannot compete with their imagination, and since they deceive exaggerated expectations, they cause disillusionment rather than admiration. Hope is a great counterfeiter of truth. Let cleverness help you out of trouble, and arrange it so that pleasure is greater than desire. Some advance loans are suitable for arousing curiosity, but do not obligate you to anything. You are better off when the reality surpasses the imagination.
""Szokott kudarca a nagyon feldicsértnek, hogy nem váltja be a hozzá fűzött reményt. A valóság sohasem ér fel az elképzeléssel, mert könnyű gondolatban magunkra ruházni minden tökélyt, de nehéz elérni. A képzelet a vággyal társul és mindig többet tesz fel a dolgokról a valóságnál. Bármilyen nagyok a kiváló tulajdonságok, a képzetükkel nem versenyezhetnek, s mivel a túlajzott várakozást megcsalják, inkább kiábrándulást keltenek, mint csodálatot. A remény nagy meghamisítója az igazságnak. Az okosság segítsen a bajon, és intézze úgy, hogy az élvezet nagyobb legyen az óhajnál. Némi előlegezett hitel alkalmas a kíváncsiság felkeltésére, de nem kötelez semmire. Jobban jársz, ha a valóság túlszárnyalja az elképzelést."