Top 25 Quotes by Lord Chesterfield of 433 - Page 12

Ties of blood are not always ties of friendship; but friendship founded on merit, on esteem, and on mutual trust, becomes more vital and more tender when strengthened by the ties of blood.

Ties of blood are not always ties of friendship; but friendship founded on merit, on esteem, and on mutual trust, becomes more vital and more tender when strengthened by the ties of blood.

Lord Chesterfield

Friendship, Blood, Ties

In friendship, as well as in love, the mind is often the dupe of the heart.

Lord Chesterfield

Love, Friendship, Heart

To write anything tolerable, the mind must be in a natural, proper disposition; provocatives, in that case, as well as in another,will only produce miserable, abortive performances.

Lord Chesterfield

Writing, Creativity, Mind

Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope Earl of Chesterfield (1855). “The Works of Lord Chesterfield: Including His Letters to His Son, Etc : to which is Prefixed, an Original Life of the Author”, p.553

There is not a more prudent maxim, than to live with one's enemies as if they may one day become one's friends; as it commonly happens, sooner or later, in the vicissitudes of political affairs.

Lord Chesterfield

Political, Enemy, One Day

Armies, though always the supporters and tools of absolute power for the time being, are always the destroyers of it too; by frequently changing the hands in which they think proper to lodge it.

Lord Chesterfield

Army, Power, Thinking

Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope Earl of Chesterfield (1855). “The Works of Lord Chesterfield: Including His Letters to His Son, Etc : to which is Prefixed, an Original Life of the Author”, p.509

It is to be presumed, that a man of common sense, who does not desire to please, desires nothing at all; since he must know that he cannot obtain anything without it.

Lord Chesterfield

Men, Common Sense, Desire

Lord Chesterfield (2008). “The Modern Chesterfield”, p.250, Wildside Press LLC

Our conjectures pass upon us for truths; we will know what we do not know, and often, what we cannot know: so mortifying to our pride is the base suspicion of ignorance.

Lord Chesterfield

Ignorance, Knowledge, Pride

Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman, December 14, 1756.

Good manners, to those one does not love, are no more a breach of truth, than "your humble servant," at the bottom of a challengeis; they are universally agreed upon, and understand to be things of course. They are necessary guards of the decency and peace of society.

Lord Chesterfield

Truth, Humble, Good Man

Lord Chesterfield (1998). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.262, Oxford Paperbacks

To govern mankind, one must not overrate them.

Lord Chesterfield

Mankind

Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, Eugenia Stanhope (1827). “Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son”, p.136

Enjoy pleasures, but let them be your own, and then you will taste them.

Lord Chesterfield

Taste, Pleasure, Enjoy

Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, Eugenia Stanhope (1827). “Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son”, p.176

When you have found out the prevailing passion of any man, remember never to trust him where that passion is concerned.

Lord Chesterfield

Passion, Men, Remember

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.44, Oxford University Press

Those who see and observe kings, heroes, and statesmen, discover that they have headaches, indigestion, humors and passions, just like other people; every one of which in their turns determine their wills in defiance of their reason.

Lord Chesterfield

Kings, Hero, Passion

Loud laughter is the mirth of the mob, who are only pleased with silly things; for true Wit or good Sense never excited a laugh since the creation of the world. A man of parts and fashion is therefore often seen to smile, but never heard to laugh.

Lord Chesterfield

Fashion, Laughter, Silly

Lord Chesterfield (1998). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.145, OUP Oxford

The nation looked upon him as a deserter, and he shrunk into insignificancy and an earldom.

Lord Chesterfield

Character, Nations

"Character of Pulteney". 1763.

Those who travel heedlessly from place to place, observing only their distance from each other, and attending only to their accommodation at the inn at night, set out fools, and will certainly return so

Lord Chesterfield

Distance, Night, Fool

Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope Earl of Chesterfield (1855). “The Works of Lord Chesterfield: Including His Letters to His Son, Etc : to which is Prefixed, an Original Life of the Author”, p.162

I knew once a very covetous, sordid fellow [perhaps William Lowndes], who used to say, `Take care of the pence, for the pounds will take care of themselves.

Lord Chesterfield

Caring, Care, Pounds

We are in truth, more than half what we are by imitation. The great point is to choose good models and to study them with care.

Lord Chesterfield

Example, Half, Care

Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope Earl of Chesterfield (1855). “The Works of Lord Chesterfield: Including His Letters to His Son, Etc : to which is Prefixed, an Original Life of the Author”, p.321

Cautiously avoid speaking of the domestic affairs either of yourself, or of other people. Yours are nothing to them but tedious gossip; and theirs are nothing to you.

Lord Chesterfield

Family, Gossip, People

When a man is once in fashion, all he does is right.

Lord Chesterfield

Fashion, Men, Doe

I find, by experience, that the mind and the body are more than married, for they are most intimately united; and when one suffers, the other sympathizes.

Lord Chesterfield

Mind, Suffering, Body

Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope Earl of Chesterfield (1855). “The Works of Lord Chesterfield: Including His Letters to His Son, Etc : to which is Prefixed, an Original Life of the Author”, p.548

An able man shows his spirit by gentle words and resolute actions.

Lord Chesterfield

Men, Able, Spirit

Lord Chesterfield (2008). “The Modern Chesterfield”, p.246, Wildside Press LLC

One man affirms that he has rode post a hundred miles in six hours; probably it is a lie; but supposing it to be true, what then? Why, he is a very good post-boy; that is all. Another asserts, and probably not without oaths, that he has drunk six or eight bottles of wine at a sitting; out of charity I will believe him a liar; for if I do not, I must think him a beast.

Lord Chesterfield

Liars, Lying, Believe

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.104, Oxford University Press