Gracian, the hero of cunning THE WORLD OF BOOKS 10/13/2005
Becoming a Jesuit, that's a good plan. In any case a young man without fortune, a native of Aragon, in the early seventeenth century. With enough skill, he soon confesses princes. It would lead, perhaps, covertly, the course of history, if destiny helped his designs. Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658) has probably done this kind of dreams. But he could not realize them. His political career was poor church, not commensurate with the ambitions that he divines.
He spent most of his finally time to write, the sumptuous palace of his patron, Juan de Vincêncio Lastanosa. Better! Because the work is unique - voluminous, confusing and beautiful, a sort of diamond disheveled, if we dare say that coexist to the point of cynicism confuse black and puns, tactical and devotion, life style and lifestyle.
is why, for nearly four centuries, this work has continued to fascinate. Gracian's lifetime, his works were reprinted several times in Spain, translated into Latin, Italian, French. Those who read it, over generations, called Molière, La Rochefoucauld, Schopenhauer (who translated into German in 1861) Nietzsche, or Jankélévitch or Lacan or Debord. Among others. A new destiny awaits him, no doubt, with this first French edition in one volume, all non-fiction (1) of Gracian by Benito Pelegrin, who for over thirty years has devoted considerable work by this author and his era. You can find here all the treaties of the master of deception, starting with his thunderbolt initial El Hero ( The Hero), published in 1647. [...]
The text addresses a reader young, ardent, but inexperienced. Presumably intelligent and determined. "What I want you singular!" Said Gracian to greet him. This virtual double wants fame, success, power, an exceptional destiny. What is lacking? A method. Well, here it is! "You will find here not a treatise on politics nor economics, but a raison d'etat of yourself, a compass to navigate towards excellence, an art to be learned with just a few rules of wisdom . "
In less than fifty pages, everything is said. The line hits just the formulas are concise. "This reads well briefly reads," later said stylist. Key precept of the first treaty of Machiavellianism Daily: never discover exactly. Better to let others ignore what really holds such powers, skills or information. " We respect a man until we found no limit to its ability ." By not giving himself never fully see or understand, so it is possible to keep the hand, and win more easily. "You who aspire to greatness, listen well the council that all may know, nobody understands you, for by this ruse, the few published many, many infinite, and infinitely more ."
this rule of concealment, which involves both emotions that projects must be added the tactics of surprise, and required renewal. For if the novelty opens the path to success, she is by nature ephemeral. What lasts tired. The real hero will have to continuously invent new things, to remain in " splendor of sunrise . Regardless, of course, whether appearances rather than realities. This distinction is not over: the power is based on beliefs, it merges with the illusion of truth. Machiavelli knew that. Gracian extends the commandment to "government self, "the conquest of individual success in life everyday.
Any Gracian's work will continue and expand this initial exposure of the principles of life victorious. Ten years after Hero , The Oracle manual Art and Prudence details the maxims to be followed with a false coldness perfect. Nothing is left out, nor the praise of artifice or need to know your weaknesses or be generous when it's useful. It will be recalled, for example, do not complain (no need to show its weaknesses), not to unveil the draft a work in progress (keep its full strength to the finished work) and conscientiously makeup mistakes. We will not forget to be economical with his presence (and the desire to maintain a certain mystery) or to have his whole life, in every field, public or private, always have two irons in the fire.
short, it will be "holy . But yes, simply! It is indeed the ultimate board of Gracian, that summarizes all the others, and we obviously do not know how to hear. For what characterizes the prose, provided that a halo of sweet madness, it is an incredible genius for ambiguity. Impossible to know, ultimately, if he advises or denounces Gracian. It will return its formulas in all directions. Exactly, they are reversible! Master of deception, it does not mean face. "Ambidextrous Spirit," as he says, it is expressed only obliquely, in chiaroscuro. " truths that matter most to us always offered a hint ." That's why he prefers the term " two lights", phrases which no one knows if they are poetry or prose, which turns all these language games will trap the clear boundaries of ideas.
So there is not far from the "Filth" in the "angel" and vice versa. These games fascinate Gracian, sometimes dizzying. Enough, anyway, for he devotes to wit, puns and other tips for a significant portion of his writings. It would be wrong to believe that this is another side. The joke is a trick of the senses, speech biased, one way to break the uniform circulation of messages, a way to keep power down. Lifestyle and short style they therefore meet, or even merge. The joke is where the withdrawal is hidden. If so, Gracian is a hero. Not a preacher of yesteryear career buried by forgetfulness, but disorder still living who can directly affect us.
This could even say otherwise in a manner certainly more irreverent, but it would perhaps not disallowed, if the word made flesh, it should be possible to tickle, to transit, pinched, to excite. And so on. In this case, the only question is whether such distractions have a future. Or if they are things of the past. This does not detract from the pleasure of reading.
(1) In his great novel in three parts, Criticón The first two were translated Editions Allia
Roger-Pol Droit
Article published in the 10/14/2005
political treaties, aesthetics, ethics Baltasar Gracian . Translated from English, introduced and annotated by Benito Pelegrin. Threshold, 940 p., 33 €.
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