On finding the mother of good fortune

Anthony Alcantara

08 Oct 2025

I just opened my copy of The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracian, a Spanish Jesuit writer and philosopher.

What did he say about diligence and intelligence? I vaguely remember. So I re-acquainted myself with this entry:

Be diligent and intelligent. Diligence promptly executes what intelligence carefully thought through. Haste is the failing of fools – they know not the obstacles and seet to work without preparation. On the other hand, the wise more often fail from procrastination – foresight begets deliberation, and delay often nullifies prompt judgment. Promptness is the mother of good fortune. He has done much who leaves nothing until tomorrow. "Make haste slowly" is a magnificent motto.

I should put that motto somewhere.

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