Top 25 Quotes by Lord Chesterfield of 433 - Page 16

I really think next to the consciousness of doing a good action, that of doing a civil one is the most pleasing; and the epithet which I should covet the most next to that of Aristides, would be that of well-bred.

I really think next to the consciousness of doing a good action, that of doing a civil one is the most pleasing; and the epithet which I should covet the most next to that of Aristides, would be that of well-bred.

Lord Chesterfield

Thinking, Next, Would Be

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.171, Oxford University Press

Good breeding is the result of good sense, some good nature, and a little self-denial for the sake of others.

Lord Chesterfield

Self, Denial, Littles

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.170, Oxford University Press

Men have various subjects in which they may excel, or at least would be thought to excel, and though they love to hear justice done to them where they know they excel, yet they are most and best flattered upon those points where they wish to excel and yet are doubtful whether they do or not.

Lord Chesterfield

Love, Men, Justice

Lord Chesterfield (1998). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.100, OUP Oxford

A wise man will live as much within his wit as his income.... Bear this truth always in your mind, that you may be admired for your wit, if you have any; but that nothing but good sense and good qualities can make you be loved.

Lord Chesterfield

Wise, Men, Mind

A certain degree of fear produces the same effects as rashness.

Lord Chesterfield

Fear, Degrees, Produce

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.629

When griefs are genuine, I find, there is nothing more vacuous, more burdensome, or even more impertinent, than letters of consolation.

Lord Chesterfield

Sympathy, Grief, Letters

It is good breeding alone that can prepossess people in your favor at first sight, more time being necessary to discover greater talents.

Lord Chesterfield

Sight, People, Favors

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.127

Let us not only scatter benefits, but even strew flowers for our fellow-travellers, in the rugged ways of this wretched world.

Lord Chesterfield

Flower, Generosity, Way

Without some dissimulation no business can be carried on at all.

Lord Chesterfield

Deception, Capitalism

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.256

The world can doubtless never be well known by theory: practice is absolutely necessary; but surely it is of great use to a young man, before he sets out for that country, full of mazes, windings, and turnings, to have at least a general map of it, made by some experienced traveler.

Lord Chesterfield

Country, Men, Practice

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.140, Oxford University Press

It is commonly said that ridicule is the best test of truth; for that it will not stick where it is not just. I deny it. A truth learned in a certain light, and attacked in certain words, by men of wit and humor, may, and often doth, become ridiculous, at least so far, that the truth is only remembered and repeated for the sake of the ridicule.

Lord Chesterfield

Men, Light, May

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.440

A man of sense soon discovers, because he carefully observes, where and how long he is welcome; and takes care to leave the company at least as soon as he is wished out of it. Fools never perceive whether they are ill timed or ill placed.

Lord Chesterfield

Men, Long, Fool

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.137, Oxford University Press

Inferiority is what you enjoy in your best friends.

Lord Chesterfield

Inferiority, Your Best Friend, Enjoy

The greatest dangers have their allurements, if the want of success is likely to be attended with a degree of glory. Middling dangers are horrid, when the loss of reputation is the inevitable consequence of ill success.

Lord Chesterfield

Success, Loss, Degrees

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.628

Men are apt to mistake, or at least to seem to mistake, their own talents, in hopes, perhaps, of misleading others to allow them that which they are conscious they do not possess. Thus lord Hardwicke valued himself more upon being a great minister of state, which he certainly was not, than upon being a great magistrate, which he certainly was.

Lord Chesterfield

Mistake, Pride, Men

If a marriage is going to work well, it must be on a solid footing, namely money, and of that commodity it is the girl with the smallest dowry who, to my knowledge, consumes the most, to infuriate her husband. All the same, it is only fair that the marriage should pay for past pleasures, since it will scarcely procure any in the future.

Lord Chesterfield

Marriage, Girl, Money

Spirit is now a very fashionable word: to act with Spirit, to speak with Spirit, means only to act rashly, and to talk indiscreetly. An able man shows his Spirit by gentle words and resolute actions; he is neither hot nor timid.

Lord Chesterfield

Passion, Mean, Men

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

Everything is worth seeing once, and the more one sees the less one either wonders or admires.

Lord Chesterfield

Experience, Wonder, Admire

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.185

Elegance of manner is the outgrowth of refined and exalted sense.

Lord Chesterfield

Elegance, Exalted, Refined

A vulgar man is captious and jealous; eager and impetuous about trifles. He suspects himself to be slighted, and thinks everything that is said meant at him.

Lord Chesterfield

Jealous, Men, Thinking

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.161, Oxford University Press

In the ordinary course of things, how many succeed in society merely by virtue of their manners, while others, however meritorious, fail through lack of them? After all, it's only barbarians who wear uncut precious stones.

Lord Chesterfield

Success, Failure, Precious Stones

Business by no means forbids pleasures; on the contrary, they reciprocally season each other; and I will venture to affirm, that no man enjoys either in perfection that does not join both.

Lord Chesterfield

Mean, Perfection, Doe

"Manners and speech or maxims extracted from Lord Chesterfield's letters to his son". Book by Lord Chesterfield, 1884.

Take rather than give the tone to the company you are in. If you have parts you will show them more or less upon every subject; and if you have not, you had better talk sillily upon a subject of other people's than of your own choosing.

Lord Chesterfield

Giving, People, Tone

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.102, Oxford University Press

A cheerful, easy, open countenance will make fools think you a good-natured man, and make designing men think you an undesigning one.

Lord Chesterfield

Men, Thinking, Design

Men are much more unwilling to have their weaknesses and their imperfections known, than their crimes; and, if you hint to a man that you think him silly, ignorant, or even ill-bred or awkward, he will hate you more, and longer, than if you tell him plainly that you think him a rogue.

Lord Chesterfield

Hate, Silly, Men

"Manners and speech or maxims extracted from Lord Chesterfield's letters to his son". Book by Lord Chesterfield, 1884.