Top 25 Quotes by Lord Chesterfield of 433 - Page 5

The more one works, the more willing one is to work.

The more one works, the more willing one is to work.

Work, Society, Willing

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.316, Oxford University Press

May you live as long as you are fit to live, but no longer, or, may you rather die before you cease to be fit to live than after!

Lord Chesterfield

Health, Blessing, Long

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.313

I look upon indolence as a sort of suicide.

Lord Chesterfield

Suicide, Looks, Look Up

Lord Chesterfield (2008). “The Modern Chesterfield”, p.233, Wildside Press LLC

If you can once engage people's pride, love, pity, ambition (or whatever is their prevailing passion) on your side, you need not fear what their reason can do against you.

Lord Chesterfield

Passion, Ambition, Pride

When a person is in fashion, all they do is right.

Lord Chesterfield

Fashion, Clothes, Clothes And Fashion

In business be as able as you can, but do not be cunning; cunning is the dark sanctuary of incapacity.

Lord Chesterfield

Dark, Sanctuary, Able

Lord Chesterfield (1998). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.380, Oxford Paperbacks

A man who cannot command his temper, his attention, and his countenance should not think of being a man of business.

Lord Chesterfield

Men, Thinking, Should

"The Modern Chesterfield".

You must be respectful and assenting, but without being servile and abject. You must be frank, but without indiscretion, and close, without being costive. You must keep up dignity of character, without the least pride of birth, or rank. You must be gay, within all the bounds of decency and respect; and grave, without the affectation of wisdom, which does not become the age of twenty. You must be essentially secret, without being dark and mysterious. You must be firm, and even bold, but with great seeming modesty.

Lord Chesterfield

Character, Gay, Dark

Vulgarism in language is the distinguishing characteristic of bad company, and a bad education. A man of fashion avoids nothing with more care than that. Proverbial expressions, and trite sayings, are the flowers of the rhetoric of vulgar man.

Lord Chesterfield

Fashion, Flower, Men

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.162, Oxford University Press

Truth, but not the whole truth, must be the invariable principle of every man who hath either religion, honour, or prudence. Thosewho violate it, may be cunning, but they are not able. Lies and perfidy are the refuge of fools and cowards.

Lord Chesterfield

Truth, Lying, Men

Lord Chesterfield (1998). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.298, OUP Oxford

A man's fortune is frequently decided by his first address. If pleasing, others at once conclude he has merit; but if ungraceful, they decide against him.

Lord Chesterfield

Men, Pleasing Others, Merit

Manners must adorn knowledge and smooth its way through the world.

Lord Chesterfield

Jewels, World, Way

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.85, Oxford University Press

Be your character what it will, it will be known, and nobody will take it upon your word.

Lord Chesterfield

Inspirational, Character, Known

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.224

Talk often, but never long; in that case, if you do not please, at least you are sure not to tire your hearers. Pay your own reckoning, but do not treat the whole company; this being one of the few cases in which people do not care to be treated, every one being fully convinced that he has wherewithal to pay.

Lord Chesterfield

Talking, Long, People

Lord Chesterfield (1998). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.101, Oxford Paperbacks

The heart never grows better by age; I fear rather worse, always harder. A young liar will be an old one, and a young knave will only be a greater knave as he grows older.

Lord Chesterfield

Birthday, Time, Liars

Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, Eugenia Stanhope (1827). “Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son”, p.179

I am convinced that a light supper, a good night's sleep, and a fine morning, have sometimes made a hero of the same man, who, by an indigestion, a restless night, and rainy morning, would have proved a coward.

Lord Chesterfield

Life, Success, Good Night

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.77, Oxford University Press

Fear invites danger; concealed cowards insult known ones.

Lord Chesterfield

Fear, Coward, Insult

A man of sense may be in haste, but can never be in a hurry.

Lord Chesterfield

Men, Haste, May

Lord Chesterfield (2008). “The Modern Chesterfield”, p.180, Wildside Press LLC

As kings are begotten and born like other men, it is to be presumed that they are of the human species; and perhaps, had they thesame education, they might prove like other men. But, flattered from their cradles, their hearts are corrupted, and their heads are turned, so that they seem to be a species by themselves.... Flattery cannot be too strong for them; drunk with it from their infancy, like old drinkers, they require dreams.

Lord Chesterfield

Dream, Strong, Kings

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

Prepare yourself for the world, as athletes used to do for their exercises; oil your mind and your manners, to give them the necessary suppleness and flexibility; strength alone will not do.

Lord Chesterfield

Strength, Being Strong, Athlete

Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, Eugenia Stanhope (1827). “Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son”, p.301

Second-rate knowledge, and middling talents, carry a man farther at courts, and in the busy part of the world, than superior knowledge and shining parts.

Lord Chesterfield

Knowledge, Men, Shining

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.421

Gold and silver are but merchandise, as well as cloth or linen; and that nation that buys the least, and sells the most, must always have the most money.

Lord Chesterfield

Money, Gold, Silver

Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, Eugenia Stanhope (1827). “Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son”, p.361

Observe any meetings of people, and you will always find their eagerness and impetuosity rise or fall in proportion to their numbers.

Lord Chesterfield

Fall, Numbers, People

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.213

Few men are of one plain, decided color; most are mixed, shaded, and blended; and vary as much, from different situations, as changeable silks do from different lights.

Lord Chesterfield

Life, Success, Men

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.260, Oxford University Press

One should always think of what one is about; when one is learning, one should not think of play; and when one is at play, one should not think of learning.

Lord Chesterfield

Education, Teaching, Thinking

Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.12, Oxford University Press