Baltasar Gracián y Moraleswas born in 1601 in Belmonte, Spain. He studied at a Jesuit school in Zaragosa and became a novice at the age of eighteen. After being ordained in 1627, he joined the Jesuits in 1633. He taught philosophy and theology at Jesuit schools in Aragon, Gandia, and Huesca before moving to the Jesuit College of Tarragona. There he served as rector until he was banished by the Jesuit Provost General for publishing the third part of his novelCriticónin 1657 without proper permission. Gracián died in Tarragona in 1658.