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Lord Chesterfield Quotes - Page 3

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To please people is a great step towards persuading them.

To please people is a great step towards persuading them.

Lord Chesterfield
People, Steps, Persuasion
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.71

He makes people pleased with him by making them first pleased with themselves.

Lord Chesterfield
People, Firsts, Persuasion

Young men are apt to think themselves wise enough, as drunken men are apt to think themselves sober enough.

Lord Chesterfield
Wise, Time, Ignorance
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.498

Mind not only what people say, but how they say it; and if you have any sagacity, you may discover more truth by your eyes than by your ears. People can say what they will, but they cannot look just as they will; and their looks frequently (reveal) what their words are calculated to conceal.

Lord Chesterfield
Eye, People, Mind
Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.29, Oxford University Press

Women are all so far Machiavellians that they are never either good or bad by halves; their passions are too strong, and their reason too weak, to do anything with moderation.

Lord Chesterfield
Strong, Women, Passion

A man must have a good share of wit himself to endure a great share in another.

Lord Chesterfield
Men, Share, Endure
Lord Chesterfield (1998). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.345, Oxford Paperbacks

Merit and knowledge will not gain hearts, though they will secure them when gained.

Lord Chesterfield
Heart, Merit, Gains
Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.179, Oxford University Press

Observe it, the vulgar often laugh, but never smile, whereas well-bred people often smile, and seldom or never laugh. A witty thing never excited laughter, it pleases only the mind and never distorts the countenance.

Lord Chesterfield
Witty, Laughter, Laughing
Lord Chesterfield (1998). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.378, OUP Oxford

Smooth your way to the head through the heart. The way of reason is a good one: but it is commonly something longer, and perhapsnot so sure.

Lord Chesterfield
Heart, Compassion, Way
"Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman". Book by Lord Chesterfield, 1774.

I recommend to you to take care of the minutes; for hours will take care of themselves. I am very sure, that many people lose two or three hours every day, by not taking care of the minutes.

Lord Chesterfield
Two, People, Three
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.164

To take a wife merely as an agreeable and rational companion, will commonly be found to be a grand mistake.

Lord Chesterfield
Mistake, Wife, Found
Lord Chesterfield (1998). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.373, OUP Oxford

Women especially as to be talked to as below men, and above children.

Lord Chesterfield
Children, Women, Men

Absolute power can only be supported by error, ignorance and prejudice.

Lord Chesterfield
Ignorance, Government, Errors

Almost all men are born with every passion to some extent, but there is hardly a man who has not a dominant passion to which the others are subordinate. Discover this governing passion in every individual; and when you have found the master passion of a man, remember never to trust to him where that passion is concerned.

Lord Chesterfield
Passion, Men, Remember

It is hard to say which is the greatest fool: he who tells the whole truth, or he who tells no truth at all. Character is as necessary in business as in trade. No man can deceive often in either.

Lord Chesterfield
Truth, Character, Men
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.621

If you would convince others, seem open to conviction yourself.

Lord Chesterfield
Persuasion, Conviction, Convincing
Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.65, Oxford University Press

Remember, as long as you live, that nothing but strict truth can carry you through the world, with either your conscience or your honor unwounded.

Lord Chesterfield
Long, Honor, World
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.157

Firmness of purpose is one of the most necessary sinews of character, and one of the best instruments of success. Without it, genius wastes its efforts in a maze of inconsistencies.

Lord Chesterfield
Success, Character, Effort

Women, then, are only children of a larger growth

Lord Chesterfield
Children, Growth, Only Child
'Letters to his Son' (1774) 5 September 1748.

Knowledge may give weight, but accomplishments give luster, and many more people see than weigh.

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

A man of sense only trifles with them, plays with them, humors and flatters them, as he does with a sprightly and forward child; but he neither consults them about, nor trusts them with, serious matters.

Lord Chesterfield
Children, Men, Play
Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.91, Oxford University Press

Whoever is in a hurry shows that the thing he is about is too big for him.

Lord Chesterfield
Powerful, Work, Haste
Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.142, Oxford University Press

Choose the company of your superiors whenever you can have it.

Lord Chesterfield
Company, Superiors
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.535

There is time enough for everything in the course of the day if you do but one thing once; but there is not time enough in the year if you will do two things at a time.

Lord Chesterfield
Time, Years, Two
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.153

A wise man will live as much within his wit as within his income.

Lord Chesterfield
Wise, Men, Advice
Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.346, Oxford University Press

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