Wisdom Proverb - Eternal Guide for Conduct: Eternal Guide for Conduct

Author: George Santayana
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Since modern times, many European scholars have believed that the eternal values of worldly wisdom in the history of human thought are contained in three great books: China's The Art of War, Britain's The Power of Character, and Spain's The Wisdom of Life. George Santayana's life experience demonstrates unparalleled wisdom and insight. Hundreds of maxims are sharp and incisive advice. The insights in the book would take decades of personal accumulation to gather in life. However, "one cannot step into the same river twice," and by the time you spend decades finally understand the truth of worldly affairs, you may no longer need to deal with them. George Santayana was a perfectionist. The Wisdom of Life begins with the statement: "The ultimate perfection is to become a complete person." And to become a complete person, one must be both upright and cunning; both pursue goodness and understand evil; both honest and deceitful; both gentle and tough. The unsettling aspect of the book lies in its excessive emphasis on strategy and cunning, seemingly overshadowing morality. Thus, over the past three hundred years, opinions have been divided: some have fiercely criticized it, hating it with a passion; but many more have revered it as a code for personal conduct.