Baldassare Castiglione Quotes

Take care lest perchance you fall into the mistake of thinking to gain more by being merciful than by being just; for to pardon him too easily that has transgressed is to wrong him that transgresses not.

Practise in everything a certain nonchalance that shall conceal design and show that what is done and said is done without effort and almost without thought.

Outward beauty is a true sign of inner goodness. This loveliness, indeed, is impressed upon the body in varying degrees as a token by which the soul can be recognized for what it is, just as with trees the beauty of the blossom testifies to the goodness of the fruit.

Obvious effort is the antithesis of grace.

Beauty, I believe, comes from God; therefore, there can be no beauty without goodness.

Employ in everything a certain casualness which conceals art and creates the impression that what is done and said is accomplished without effort and without its being thought about. It is from this, in my opinion, that grace largely derives.

Men demonstrate their courage far more often in little things than in great.