--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never exaggerate. It is a matter of great…" description: "\"“Never exaggerate. It is a matter of great importance to forego superlatives, in part to avoid offending the truth, and in part to avoid cheapening you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/baltasar-gracian-1090_exaggerate_never-exaggerate-it-is-a-matter-of-great_2968624.jpg" --- # Never exaggerate. It is a matter of great importance to… ![“Never exaggerate. It is a matter of great importance to forego superlatives, in part to avoid offending the truth, and in part to avoid cheapening your judgment. Exaggeration wastes distinction and testifies to the paucity of your understanding and taste. Praise excites anticipation and stimulates…” quote by Baltasar Gracián](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/baltasar-gracian-1090_exaggerate_never-exaggerate-it-is-a-matter-of-great_2968624.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/baltasar-gracian-1090_exaggerate_never-exaggerate-it-is-a-matter-of-great_2968624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/baltasar-gracian-1090_exaggerate_never-exaggerate-it-is-a-matter-of-great_2968624.jpg) > ““Never exaggerate. It is a matter of great importance to forego superlatives, in part to avoid offending the truth, and in part to avoid cheapening your judgment. Exaggeration wastes distinction and testifies to the paucity of your understanding and taste. Praise excites anticipation and stimulates desire. Afterwards when value does not measure up to price, disappointment turns against the fraud and takes revenge by cheapening both the appraised and the appraise. For this reason let the prudent go slowly, and err in understatement rather than overstatement. The extraordinary of every kind is always rare, wherefore temper your estimate.”” [Baltasar Gracián](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Exaggeration inflates claims, distorts truth, and leads to disappointment; modesty preserves credibility and judgment. **In simple terms:** Overstating hurts trust and understanding. Key Takeaway Prefer understatement to avoid false expectations. Themes honesty moderation judgment Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - business negotiations - personal relationships - public speaking - writing - teaching Key Concepts pragmatism communication perception Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance honesty with enthusiasm? - When is exaggeration acceptable? A Different Perspective Overly cautious language may underplay genuine achievements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exaggerate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exaggerate/) [Exaggeration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exaggeration/) [Judgment Exaggeration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment-exaggeration-4558675/) [Overstatement Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overstatement-extraordinary-4558677/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Understatement Overstatement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understatement-overstatement-4558676/) ## Related quotes > [We weaken what we exaggerate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-de-la-harpe/we-weaken-what-we-exaggerate/) [Jean-Francois de La Harpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-de-la-harpe/) > [It is human to exaggerate the merits of the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-is-human-to-exaggerate-the-merits-of-the-dead/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [There is no one who does not exaggerate!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-no-one-who-does-not-exaggerate/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [To exaggerate is to weaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-de-la-harpe/to-exaggerate-is-to-weaken/) [Jean-Francois de La Harpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-de-la-harpe/) > [All the exaggerations are right, if they exaggerate the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-the-exaggerations-are-right-if-they-exaggerate-the-right-thing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If a spectacle is going to be particularly imposing I prefer to see it through somebody else's eyes, because that man will always exaggerate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-a-spectacle-is-going-to-be-particularly-imposing-i-prefer-to-see/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Why didn't you tell us you were the Alexander Black who can stand atop a cantering horse and shoot a hole through a plum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jeffries/why-didn-t-you-tell-us-you-were-the-alexander-black-who-can-stand/) [Sabrina Jeffries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-jeffries/) > [I think it's very funny that someone would exaggerate to make himself look worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leavitt/i-think-it-s-very-funny-that-someone-would-exaggerate-to-make-himself/) [David Leavitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leavitt/) > [He who cannot exaggerate is not qualified to utter truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/he-who-cannot-exaggerate-is-not-qualified-to-utter-truth/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I tend to basically exaggerate in life, and in writing, it's fine to exaggerate. I really enjoy overstating for the purpose of getting a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/i-tend-to-basically-exaggerate-in-life-and-in-writing-it-s-fine-to/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [What happens, I think, is especially for comic effect you find something about yourself that you don't like. You exaggerate it, and it's funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-knight/what-happens-i-think-is-especially-for-comic-effect-you-find/) [Wayne Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-knight/) > [It is the essence of truth that it is never excessive. Why should it exaggerate? There is that which should be destroyed and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/it-is-the-essence-of-truth-that-it-is-never-excessive-why-should-it/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“If you use the term 'over-exaggerate,' you know the definition neither of 'exaggerate' nor of 'over.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-ulyate/if-you-use-the-term-over-exaggerate-you-know-the-definition-neither/) [Rodney Ulyate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-ulyate/) > [“Maybe that's what writers do- Maybe they exaggerate pain just so that you feel okay about what you're feeling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/maybe-that-s-what-writers-do-maybe-they-exaggerate-pain-just-so-that/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) > [“41 Never exaggerate. It isn’t wise to use superlatives. They offend the truth and cast doubt on your judgment. By exaggerating, you squander your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/41-never-exaggerate-it-isn-t-wise-to-use-superlatives-they-offend-the/) [Baltasar Gracián](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) ## More by Baltasar Gracián > [To be at ease is better than to be at business. Nothing really belongs to us but time, which even he has who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/to-be-at-ease-is-better-than-to-be-at-business-nothing-really-belongs/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [It requires as much to tell the truth as to conceal it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/it-requires-as-much-to-tell-the-truth-as-to-conceal-it/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [There are friendships merely for pleasure, some for the exchange of ideas. Rarest are those friends of one's inmost self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/there-are-friendships-merely-for-pleasure-some-for-the-exchange-of/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [What is not seen is as if it was not. Even the Right does not receive proper consideration if it does not seem right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/what-is-not-seen-is-as-if-it-was-not-even-the-right-does-not-receive/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [What the multitude says, is so, or soon will be so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/what-the-multitude-says-is-so-or-soon-will-be-so/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the other one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/a-synonym-is-a-word-you-use-when-you-can-t-spell-the-other-one/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [It is good to vary in order that you may frustrate the curious, especially those who envy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/it-is-good-to-vary-in-order-that-you-may-frustrate-the-curious/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Hope has a good memory, gratitude a bad one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/hope-has-a-good-memory-gratitude-a-bad-one/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Knowing how to keep a friend is more important than gaining a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/knowing-how-to-keep-a-friend-is-more-important-than-gaining-a-new-one/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Leave your luck while still winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/leave-your-luck-while-still-winning/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Superiority is always detested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/superiority-is-always-detested/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [“We have eyelids but not earlids, for the ears are the portals of learning, and Nature wanted to keep them wide open.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/we-have-eyelids-but-not-earlids-for-the-ears-are-the-portals-of/) [Baltasar Gracián](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [The wise persono would rather see others needing him than thanking him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/the-wise-persono-would-rather-see-others-needing-him-than-thanking-him/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [No one demands more caution than a spy, and when someone has the skeleton key to minds, counter him by leaving the key of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/no-one-demands-more-caution-than-a-spy-and-when-someone-has-the/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Keep the extent of your abilities unknown.The wise man does not allow his knowledge and abilities to be sounded to the bottom, if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/keep-the-extent-of-your-abilities-unknown-the-wise-man-does-not-allow/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) [Explore all 288 Baltasar Gracián quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) ## More Exaggerate quotes > [People exaggerate the value of things they haven't got everybody worships truth and unselfishness because they have no experience with them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/people-exaggerate-the-value-of-things-they-haven-t-got-everybody/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I don't exaggerate - I just remember big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/i-don-t-exaggerate-i-just-remember-big/) [Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/) > [We can exaggerate about many things; but we can never exaggerate our obligation to Jesus, or the compassionate abundance of the love of Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-faber/we-can-exaggerate-about-many-things-but-we-can-never-exaggerate-our/) [Frederick William Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-faber/) > [It's nonsense to say money doesn't buy happiness, but people exaggerate the extent to which more money can buy more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/it-s-nonsense-to-say-money-doesn-t-buy-happiness-but-people/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [All losers exaggerate because they want you to know how bad they feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-caro/all-losers-exaggerate-because-they-want-you-to-know-how-bad-they-feel/) [Mike Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-caro/) > [People in life, when they have a tendency to exaggerate or lie or whatever, you always sort of notice that their voice goes up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/people-in-life-when-they-have-a-tendency-to-exaggerate-or-lie-or/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [It has something to do with the facts and the law and who the judges are. So I think lawyers sometimes exaggerate their role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-abrams/it-has-something-to-do-with-the-facts-and-the-law-and-who-the-judges/) [Floyd Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-abrams/) > [We weaken what we exaggerate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-de-la-harpe/we-weaken-what-we-exaggerate/) [Jean-Francois de La Harpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-de-la-harpe/) > [“If you use the term 'over-exaggerate,' you know the definition neither of 'exaggerate' nor of 'over.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-ulyate/if-you-use-the-term-over-exaggerate-you-know-the-definition-neither/) [Rodney Ulyate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-ulyate/) > [Do I exaggerate? Boy, do I, and I'd do it more if I could get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/do-i-exaggerate-boy-do-i-and-i-d-do-it-more-if-i-could-get-away-with/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [My name is Bruce Feiler, and I'm an explainaholic. I first heard this word used to describe Isaac Asimov, and I knew instantly that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/my-name-is-bruce-feiler-and-i-m-an-explainaholic-i-first-heard-this/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [my good qualities are under your protection, and you are to exaggerate them as much as possible; and, in return, it belongs to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/my-good-qualities-are-under-your-protection-and-you-are-to-exaggerate/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I exaggerate when I’m angry, but I’ve never gone around telling people things that aren’t true about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-exaggerate-when-i-m-angry-but-i-ve-never-gone-around-telling-people/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [One of the things that I'm realizing is that in voice-over work, you have to actually do more work with your facial muscles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-valley/one-of-the-things-that-i-m-realizing-is-that-in-voice-over-work-you/) [Mark Valley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-valley/) > [I don't think most men do hate women at all - I think most men are trying their best and facing a culturation into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/i-don-t-think-most-men-do-hate-women-at-all-i-think-most-men-are/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) [Browse all 102 Exaggerate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exaggerate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Never exaggerate. 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