Women are much more like each other than men: they have, in truth, but two passions, vanity and love; these are their universal characteristics.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Vanity
Armies, though always the supporters and tools of absolute power for the time being, are always its destroyers too, by frequently changing the hands in which they think proper to lodge it.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Army
Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Compliments, Modesty, Humility
Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it is unattainable; however, they who aim at it, and persevere, will come much nearer to it, than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Miscellaneous, Perfection, Aspirations, Goals, Perfectionism
For my own part, I would rather be in company with a dead man than with an absent one; for if the dead man gives me no pleasure, at least he shows me no contempt; whereas the absent one, silently indeed, but very plainly, tells me that he does not think me worth his attention.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Be your character what it will, it will be known; and nobody will take it upon your word.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Character
The dews of evening—those tears of the sky for the loss of the sun.
—Earl of Chesterfield
All Mr. Pitt’s sentiments were liberal and elevated. His ruling passion was an unbounded ambition, which, when supported by great abilities and crowned with great success, make (sic) what the world calls a great man. He was haughty, imperious, impatient of contradiction, and over-bearing; qualities which too often accompany, but always clog, great ones.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Leadership
When I reflect upon what I have seen, have heard, and have done, I can hardly persuade myself that all that frivolous hurry and bustle and pleasure of the world had any reality; and I look on what has passed as one of those wild dreams which opium occasions, and I by no means wish to repeat the nauseous dose for the sake of the fugitive illusion.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Life
In order to judge of the inside of others, study your own; for men in general are very much alike, and though one has one prevailing passion, and another has another, yet their operations are much the same; and whatever engages or disgusts, pleases, or offends you in others will engage, disgust, please or offend others in you.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Judgment
Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.
—Earl of Chesterfield
There is a sort of veteran woman of condition, who, having lived always in the grand monde, and having possibly had some gallantries, together with the experience of five and twenty or thirty years, form a young fellow better than all the rules that can be given him. Wherever you go, make some of those women your friends; which a very little matter will do. Ask their advice, tell them your doubts or difficulties as to your behavior; but take great care not to drop one word of their experience; for experience implies age, and the suspicion of age, no woman, let her be ever so old, ever forgives.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Experience
Buy good books, and read them; the best books are the commonest, and the last editions are always the best, if the editors are not blockheads.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Books, Reading
I knew once a very covetous, sordid fellow who used to say, Take care of the pence, for the pounds will take care of themselves.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Wealth, Economy
How often have I seen the most solid merit and knowledge neglected, unwelcome, and even rejected, while flimsy parts, little knowledge, and less merit, introduced by the Graces, have been received, cherished, and admired!
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Manners
Great merit, or great failings, will make you respected or despised; but trifles, little attentions, mere nothings, either done or neglected, will make you either liked or disliked in the general run of the world.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Greatness & Great Things, Trifles, Life, Greatness
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.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Excellence
Let them show me a cottage where there are not the same vices of which they accuse the courts.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Virtue, Vice
Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken, and cost nothing but pen, ink, and paper. I consider them as draughts upon good breeding, where the exchange is always greatly in favor of the drawer.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Compliments
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.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Dedication, Commitment, Goals, Aspirations, Control
In my mind, there is nothing so illiberal and so ill-bred, as audible laughter.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Laughter
Frivolous curiosity about trifles, and laborious attentions to little objects which neither require nor deserve a moment’s thought, lower a man, who from thence is thought, and not unjustly, incapable of greater matters.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Trifles, Mind
I do by no means advise you to throw away your time in ransacking, like a dull antiquarian, the minute and unimportant parts of remote and fabulous times. Let blockheads read, what blockheads wrote.
—Earl of Chesterfield
In the case of scandal, as in that of robbery, the receiver is always thought as bad as the thief.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Shame
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.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Blessings, Health
Our own self-love draws a thick veil between us and our faults.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Self-Discovery, Ego, Egotism
There is time enough for every thing in the course of the day, if you do but one thing at once ; but there is not time enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Focus, Concentration, Time Management, One Step at a Time, Value of Time
A weak mind is like a microscope, which magnifies trifling things, but cannot receive great ones.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Mind, The Mind, Weakness
A man who cannot command his temper should not think of being a man of business.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Temper
If you would convince others, seem open to conviction yourself.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Persuasion
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