“Do not weary anyone. What is good, if brief, is twice as good.”Baltasar Gracián · Oracolul manual · 1647 · Oracolul manual, Maxima 105
Gracián highlights a principle of art and life: any excess, even of quality, wearies. A brilliant but long speech loses its impact; a beautiful but drawn-out story bores. When something is brief, every word or moment matters, and the audience is left wanting more. Example: a three-minute wedding toast is more memorable than a twenty-minute one.
Why it matters Use this when writing, speaking, or creating: brevity amplifies impact.