The Art of Worldly Wisdom

The Art of Worldly Wisdom (Spanish: Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia) is a book written in 1647 by Baltasar Gracián y Morales, better known as Baltasar Gracian.^[1] It is a collection of 300 maxims, each with a commentary, on various topics giving advice and guidance on how to live fully, advance socially, and be a better person, that became popular throughout Europe.^[2][3][4]

Title page of The Art of Worldly Wisdom

The courtier's oracle, or, The art of prudence, 1694 translation.

It was translated by Joseph Jacobs (London and New York City, Macmillan and co., 1892.^[5] Other editions are also available from:

• Nayika Publishing, 2009, ISBN 978-0-955-95831-1; edited with a light commentary/footnotes
• Shambhala Publications, 2004, ISBN 1-59030141-2
• Christopher Maurer (Doubleday) 1992
• Dover Publications, 2005, ISBN 0-48644034-6
• Google Books as a free digital edition via partnership with Princeton University Library