1 Hombre en su punto. 2 No se nace hecho: vase de cada día perficionando en la persona, en el empleo, hasta llegar al punto del consumado ser, al complemento de prendas, de eminencias. 3 Conocerse ha en lo realzado del gusto, purificado del ingenio, en lo maduro del juicio, en lo defecado de la voluntad. 4 Algunos nunca llegan a ser cabales, fáltales siempre un algo; tardan otros en hacerse. 5 El varón consumado, sabio en dichos, cuerdo en hechos, es admitido y aun deseado del singular comercio de los discretos.
1 Man at his peak. 2 One is not born complete: he goes along every day perfecting himself in character, in profession, until he arrives at the peak of consummate being, the completion of talents, of expertise. 3 This state can be recognized by the excellence of one’s taste, purification of wit, ripeness of judgment, clarification of will. 4 Some never arrive at perfection, they always lack something; others are slow in developing. 5 The consummate nobleman, wise in words, sound in deeds, is admitted to, and even desired by, the special intimacy of the discreet.
Posted by Michael Hendry at March 6, 2004 12:00 AM