It is often more necessary to conceal contempt than resentment; the former is never forgiven, but the later is sometimes forgotten. Lord Chesterfield More Quotes by Lord Chesterfield More Quotes From Lord Chesterfield 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 return revenge men 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 fool men long Violent measures are always dangerous, but, when necessary, may then be looked on as wise. They have, however, the advantage of never being matter of indifference; and, when well concerted, must be decisive. Lord Chesterfield violence wise may 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 degrees loss success Cardinal Mazarin was a great knave, but no great man; much more cunning than able; scandalously false and dirtily greedy. Lord Chesterfield greed character men Anne of Austria (with great submission to a Crowned Head do I say it) was a B----. She had spirit and courage without parts, devotion without common morality, and lewdness without tenderness either to justify or to dignify it. Her two sons were no more Lewis the Thirteen's than they were mine. Lord Chesterfield character two son The vulgar look upon a man, who is reckoned a fine speaker, as a phenomenon, a supernatural being, and endowed with some peculiargift of Heaven; they stare at him, if he walks in the park, and cry, that is he. You will, I am sure, view him in a juster light, and nulla formidine. You will consider him only as a man of good sense, who adorns common thoughts with the graces of elocution, and the elegancy of style. The miracle will then cease. Lord Chesterfield supernatural-beings light men There is not a more prudent maxim, than to live with one's enemies as if they may one day become one's friends; as it commonly happens, sooner or later, in the vicissitudes of political affairs. Lord Chesterfield one-day political enemy 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 men mean The herd of mankind can hardly be said to think; their notions are almost all adoptive; and, in general, I believe it is better that it should be so; as such common prejudices contribute more to order and quiet, than their own separate reasonings would do, uncultivated and unimproved as they are. Lord Chesterfield ignorance believe thinking The most ignorant are the boldest conjecturers. Lord Chesterfield ignorant ignorance 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 compassion heart way An honest man may really love a pretty girl, but only an idiot marries her merely because she is pretty. Lord Chesterfield marriage girl love A learned parson, rusting in his cell at Oxford or Cambridge, will reason admirably well upon the nature of man; will profoundly analyze the head, the heart, the reason, the will, the passions, the senses, the sentiments, and all those subdivisions of we know not what ; and yet, unfortunately, he knows nothing of man... He views man as he does colours in Sir Isaac Newton's prism, where only the capital ones are seen; but an experienced dyer knows all their various shades and gradations, together with the result of their several mixtures. Lord Chesterfield passion learning ignorance In business be as able as you can, but do not be cunning; cunning is the dark sanctuary of incapacity. Lord Chesterfield able sanctuary dark A foreign minister, I will maintain it, can never be a good man of business if he is not an agreeable man of pleasure too. Half his business is done by the help of his pleasures: his views are carried on, and perhaps best, and most unsuspectedly, at balls, suppers, assemblies, and parties of pleasure; by intrigues with women, and connections insensibly formed with men, at those unguarded hours of amusement. Lord Chesterfield party views men Half the business is done, when one has gained the heart and the affections of those with whom one is to transact it. Lord Chesterfield done half heart Keep your own secret, and get out other people's. Keep your own temper, and artfully warm other people's. Counterwork your rivalswith diligence and dexterity, but at the same time with the utmost personal civility to them: and be firm without heat. Lord Chesterfield dexterity secret people In the course of the world, a man must very often put on an easy, frank countenance, upon very disagreeable occasions; he must seem pleased, when he is very much otherwise; he must be able to accost and receive with smiles, those whom he would much rather meet with swords. Lord Chesterfield tolerance patience men All ceremonies are in themselves very silly things; but yet, a man of the world should know them. They are the outworks of Mannersand Decency, which would be too often broken in upon, if it were not for that defence, which keeps the enemy at a proper distance. Lord Chesterfield distance silly men
