Top 25 Quotes by Lord Chesterfield of 433 - Page 4

Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.

Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.

Humility, Bait, Modesty

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.341

I have seen many people, who while you are speaking to them, instead, of looking at, and attending to you, fix their eyes upon the ceiling, or some other part of the room, look out of the window, play with a dog, twirl their snuff-box, or pick their nose. Nothing discovers a little, futile, frivolous mind more than this, and nothing is so offensively ill-bred.

Lord Chesterfield

Dog, Eye, Play

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

Judgment is not upon all occasions required, but discretion always is.

Lord Chesterfield

Justice, Judgment, All Occasions

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.352, Oxford University Press

I would rather have a young fellow too much than too little dressed; the excess on that side will wear off, with a little age and reflection; but if he is negligent at twenty, he will be a sloven at forty, and stink at fifty years old. Dress yourself fine where others are fine, and plain where others are plain; but take care always that your clothes are well made and fit you, for otherwise they will give you a very awkward air.

Lord Chesterfield

Reflection, Years, Clothes

Lord Chesterfield (1998). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.128, Oxford Paperbacks

The only solid and lasting peace between a man and his wife is, doubtless, a separation.

Lord Chesterfield

Funny, Marriage, Drinking

Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, Eugenia Stanhope (1827). “Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son”, p.254

Religion is by no means a proper subject of conversation in mixed company; it should only be treated among a very few people of learning, for mutual instruction. It is too awful and respectable a subject to become a familiar one.

Lord Chesterfield

Mean, People, Religion

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.353, Oxford University Press

Whatever you do, do it to the purpose; do it thoroughly, not superficially. Go to the bottom of things. Any thing half done, or half known, is in my mind, neither done nor known at all. Nay, worse, for it often misleads.

Lord Chesterfield

Mind, Purpose, Done

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.174

I have, by long experience, found women to be like Telephus's spear: if one end kills, the other cures.

Lord Chesterfield

Women, Long, Ends

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.563

It is often more necessary to conceal contempt than resentment; the former is never forgiven, but the later is sometimes forgotten.

Lord Chesterfield

Resentment, Forgotten, Sometimes

Good humor is the health of the soul, sadness is its poison.

Lord Chesterfield

Sad, Depressing, Inspiration

If a man, notoriously and designedly, insults and affronts you, knock him down; but if he only injures you, your best revenge is to be extremely civil to him in your outward behaviour, though at the same time you counterwork him, and return him the compliment, perhaps with interest.

Lord Chesterfield

Revenge, Men, Return

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.485

Little minds mistake little objects for great ones, and lavish away upon the former that time and attention which only the latterdeserve. To such mistakes we owe the numerous and frivolous tribe of insect-mongers, shell-mongers, and pursuers and driers of butterflies, etc. The strong mind distinguishes, not only between the useful and the useless, but likewise between the useful and the curious.

Lord Chesterfield

Strong, Mistake, Butterfly

Lord Chesterfield (1998). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.160, OUP Oxford

Nature has hardly formed a woman ugly enough to be insensible to flattery upon her person.

Lord Chesterfield

Ugly, Flattery, Enough

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.60, Oxford University Press

Remember that whatever knowledge you do not solidly lay the foundation of before you are eighteen, you will never be master of while you breathe.

Lord Chesterfield

Knowledge, Foundation, Remember

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.166

Silence and reserve suggest latent power. What some men think has more effect than what others say.

Lord Chesterfield

Men, Thinking, Silence

Few fathers care much for their sons, or at least, most of them care more for their money. Of those who really love their sons, few know how to do it.

Lord Chesterfield

Family, Father, Son

If you are not in fashion, you are nobody.

Lord Chesterfield

Fashion, Ifs

1750 Letter to his son, 30 Apr.

Any affectation whatsoever in dress implies, in my mind, a flaw in the understanding.

Lord Chesterfield

Fashion, Understanding, Mind

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.127, Oxford University Press

An injury is much sooner forgotten than an insult.

Lord Chesterfield

Trust, Insult To Injury, Domestic Violence

Letters to His Son, 9 Oct. 1746

Common sense (which, in truth, is very uncommon) is the best sense I know of: abide by it; it will counsel you best.

Lord Chesterfield

Common Sense, Truth Is, Uncommon

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.97, Oxford University Press

Few people do business well, who do nothing else.

Lord Chesterfield

Business, Work, People

"The Letters of the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son". Book by Lord Chesterfield, 1774.

Politicians neither love nor hate. Interest, not sentiment, directs them.

Lord Chesterfield

Hate, Political, Politics

A man's own good breeding is the best security against other people's ill manners.

Lord Chesterfield

Inspirational, Men, People

Nothing sharpens the arrow of sarcasm so keenly as the courtesy that polishes it; no reproach is like that we clothe with a smile and present with a bow.

Lord Chesterfield

Sarcasm, Arrows, Bows