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Saturday 16 November 2019 Baltazar Gracian Aphorism #187: Do pleasant Things Yourself, unpleasant Things through Others. By the one course you gain goodwill, by the other you avoid hatred. A great man takes more pleasure in doing a favour than in receiving one: it is the privilege of his generous nature. One cannot easily cause pain to another without suffering pain either from sympathy or from remorse. In high places, one can only work by means of rewards and punishment, so grant the first yourself and inflict the second through others. Have some one against whom the weapons of discontent, hatred, and slander may be directed. For the rage of the mob is like that of a dog: he does not know the cause of his injury, so bitees the stick that beats him, which, though it does not bear the responsibility, nevertheless has to bear the penalty. My interpretation: I have mixed feelings about this aphorism, as I often do about ones that reflect Gracian's insights on how to advance in the 17th-century Spanish court and Catholic Church--both of which were cut-throat in his day. I am certain that it is good advice in business and, perhaps, many other situations; it is a reason people use lawyers. I have an over-developed sense of responsibility, however, and it rubs the wrong way to have other people conduct the unpleasant parts of my life. On the other hand, because some conversations or acts churn up unpleasant emotions, I have been known to avoid them. On those occasions, would it be better to have a third party deliver the message? Best of all, of course, would be for me to man up--so to speak--and take control of my own life. But we are all cowards at some point or other about something or other. Are these the times at which help from a third party is appropriate? As I said, mixed feelings. | |
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