Balthasar Gracian was born in 1601 in Belmonte, a village 100 miles from Madrid. In his teens he lived in Toledo and Zaragoza, studying philosophy and letters.

Entering the Jesuit order at age 18, he remained in it for the rest of his life. At various times Gracian was chaplain, professor, administrator and confessor (personal priest) to aristocrats, plus rector and vice-rector of several Jesuit colleges.

History might have forgotten Gracian entirely were it not for a book of 300 maxims, written when he was in his mid-40s. First translated into English as The Courtier’s Manual Oracle and the Art of Prudence, the little book came to be known as The Art of Worldly Wisdom.

Gracian asks the reader to become “a person of substance”. Aphorisms no. 75 says: “Unhappy is the eminence that isn’t founded on substance… Only the truth can give you a true reputation, and only substance is profitable.”

He says elsewhere: “Only perfection is noticed, and only success endures…So with metals: the most precious of them takes longest to be refined, and weighs most.”

Maxim no. 55 is about patience: “Stroll through the open spaces of time to the center of opportunity. Wise hesitation ripens success and brings secrets to maturity. The crutch of Time can do more than the steely club of Hercules… Fortune gives larger rewards to those who wait.”

Without self-mastery, you can never master others, says Gracian. A major part of your power will come from what we now call emotional intelligence. At all times seek to be the civilized person, avoiding the vulgarity of uncontrolled passion.

“The passions are the humors of the mind, and the least excess sickens our judgement. If the disease spreads to the mouth, your reputation will be in danger. Master yourself thoroughly… All will admire your superiority.”

Gracian’s philosophy is about finding the “edge” that will separate you from the pack. While able in his roles as chaplain, confessor or administrator, he knew he had no special talent in them. He realized that his true role was a scientist of success and character.

Gracian sought out the scholarly, the cultured and the powerful in order to reduce their knowledge, and his own observations, to a valuable essence. This was not an obvious job description in his time and place, and indeed the church took a dim view of his work.