Do not vacillate. Do not let your actions be abnormal either from disposition or affectation. A wise person is always consistent in his best qualities, and because of this he gets the credit of trustworthiness. If he changes, he does so for good reason and after good consideration. In matters of conduct change is hateful. There are some who are different every day—their intelligence varies, still more their will, and with this their fortune. Yesterday’s white is today’s black; today’s no was yesterday’s yes. They always give the lie to their own credit and destroy their credit with others.

THE ART OF WORLDLY WISDOM BY BALTHASAR GRACIAN
TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH JACOBS 1892