Hero Mirror

Author: Baltasar Gracián
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-04-01
Features: The Cynics teach prudence, Aesop makes one clever, Homer shapes the warrior, Aristotle forms the philosopher, Thucydides inspires the politician, Castiglione instructs the courtier. I have extracted the essence of these masters and sketched an overall image of a hero, a man of perfect virtues. The purpose of this book is to borrow the knowledge and life experiences of others, combined with my own clumsy talents, to forge this mirror. If you can use it as a guide, you will recognize your true self and see your rightful potential. The title of this book is "The Mirror for Heroes," as it provides a vivid and striking image of the perfect moral and spiritual realm. In the author's view, a hero is "a man of complete perfection, mature and perfect: precise in judgment, refined in taste, attentive when listening to reason, wise in speech, and skillful in action, being the center of all perfection." The subject of this book is neither statecraft nor business techniques, but a way of self-discipline, a compass for achieving excellence, a set of principles for practicing prudence and caution in action, and a way of life that strives for excellence.