Baltasar Gracián y Morales (January 8, 1601 – December 6, 1658) was born in Spain, the son of a doctor. He studied theology at Zaragoza, and was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1633. The Aragonese village of his birth changed its name in his honor.

The 1637 "Oraculo manual y arte de prudencia" consists of 300 maxims with commentary. The aphorisms were composed by the priest during his teaching and administration of the Jesuit College at Huesca, near the museum-library mansion of Vincencio Juan de Lastanosa, one of the remarkably rare wealthy humanist scholars who became his friend and publisher. This work is filled with poetic word-play, rhetoric devices, and is an anthology of the Baroque "conceptismo" literary style. It is characterized by rapid rhythm, direct and simple words, witty metaphors, and pithy but multiple meanings.

The "oracle" -- layered with the meaning of guide, and future action -- provides instruction for prospering through virtue and serves as "a companion for life" (Schopenhauer's description for his translation), in an elliptical manner.

Although Gracian was repeatedly warned not to publish his works without permission, he repeatedly disobeyed, and ignored reprimands. He was sanctioned and exiled to Graus, and tried unsuccessfully to leave the order.