The knowledge of the world is only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet. Lord Chesterfield More Quotes by Lord Chesterfield More Quotes From Lord Chesterfield The only solid and lasting peace between a man and his wife is, doubtless, a separation. Lord Chesterfield marriagedrinkingfunny Good-breeding carries along with it a dignity that is respected by the most petulant. Ill-breeding invites and authorizes the familiarity of the most timid. Lord Chesterfield breedingdignityill 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 familyfatherson Remember, that when I speak of pleasures I always mean the elegant pleasures of a rational being, and not the brutal ones of a swine. I mean la bonne chère, short of gluttony; wine, infinitely short of drunkenness; play, without the least gaming; and gallantry, without debauchery. Lord Chesterfield wineplaymean We are really so prejudiced by our educations, that, as the ancients deified their heroes, we deify their madmen. Lord Chesterfield madmenprejudicehero Awkwardness is a more real disadvantage than it is generally thought to be; it often occasions ridicule, it always lessens dignity. Lord Chesterfield disadvantagesdignityreal 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 threetwopeople Love has been not unaptly compared to the small-pox, which most people have sooner or later. Lord Chesterfield poxlovepeople I am not of the opinion generally entertained in this country [England], that man lives by Greek and Latin alone; that is, by knowing a great many words of two dead languages, which nobody living knows perfectly, and which are of no use in the common intercourse of life. Useful knowledge, in my opinion, consists of modern languages, history, and geography; some Latin may be thrown into the bargain, in compliance with custom, and for closet amusement. Lord Chesterfield latineducationcountry 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 strongkingsdream Nothing convinces persons of a weak understanding so effectually, as what they do not comprehend. Lord Chesterfield understandingignoranceweak Let this be one invariable rule of your conduct--never to show the least symptom of resentment, which you cannot, to a certain degree, gratify; but always to smile, where you cannot strike. Lord Chesterfield smiledegreespatience Knowledge of the world in only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet. Lord Chesterfield educationworldknowledge Choose your pleasures for yourself, and do not let them be imposed upon you. Lord Chesterfield pleasure Politicians neither love nor hate. Interest, not sentiment, directs them. Lord Chesterfield politicspoliticalhate To this principle of vanity, which philosophers call a mean one, and which I do not, I owe a great part of the figure which I have made in life. Lord Chesterfield vanityprinciplesmean Most maxim-mongers have preferred the prettiness to the justness of a thought, and the turn to the truth; but I have refused myself to everything that my own experience did not justify and confirm. Lord Chesterfield prettinessjustifyturns A man must have a good share of wit himself to endure a great share in another. Lord Chesterfield enduresharemen 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 shiningmenknowledge Those who see and observe kings, heroes, and statesmen, discover that they have headaches, indigestion, humors and passions, just like other people; every one of which in their turns determine their wills in defiance of their reason. Lord Chesterfield passionkingshero
