Unlike my subject will I frame my song, It shall be witty and it shan't be long. Lord Chesterfield More Quotes by Lord Chesterfield More Quotes From Lord Chesterfield 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 bowsarrowssarcasm If you will please people, you must please them in their own way; and as you cannot make them what they should be, you must take them as they are. Lord Chesterfield tolerancepeopleway Little secrets are commonly told again, but great ones generally kept. Lord Chesterfield great-onessecretlittles People hate those who make them feel their own inferiority. Lord Chesterfield inferiorityhatepeople To please people is a great step towards persuading them. Lord Chesterfield persuasionstepspeople Men are much more unwilling to have their weaknesses and their imperfections known than their crimes. Lord Chesterfield imperfectionweaknessmen The only sure way of avoiding these evils [vanity and boasting] is never to speak of yourself at all. But when, historically, youare obliged to mention yourself, take care not to drop one single word that can directly or indirectly be construed as fishing for applause. Lord Chesterfield vanityfishingevil A man who cannot command his temper, his attention, and his countenance should not think of being a man of business. Lord Chesterfield shouldmenthinking An able man shows his spirit by gentle words and resolute actions. He is neither hot nor timid. Lord Chesterfield ablehotmen Polished brass will pass upon more people than rough gold. Lord Chesterfield appearancegoldpeople I can hardly bring myself to caution you against drinking, because I am persuaded that I am writing to a rational creature, a gentleman, and not to a swine. However, that you may not be insensibly drawn into that beastly custom of even sober drinking and sipping, as the sots call it, I advise you to be of no club whatsoever. Lord Chesterfield gentlemandrinkingwriting Style is the dress of thoughts; and let them be ever so just, if your style is homely, coarse, and vulgar, they will appear to as much disadvantage, and be as ill received, as your person, though ever so well-proportioned, would if dressed in rags, dirt, and tatters. Lord Chesterfield ragsstyledresses 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 clothesreflectionyears 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. Lord Chesterfield effortsuccesscharacter 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 butterflystrongmistake Vice, in its true light, is so deformed, that it shocks us at first sight; and would hardly ever seduce us, if it did not at first wear the mask of some virtue. Lord Chesterfield lightvicessight Health ... is the first and greatest of all blessings. Lord Chesterfield blessingfirsts When a person is in fashion, all they do is right. Lord Chesterfield clothes-and-fashionclothesfashion The less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in. Lord Chesterfield inspirationallifefunny An injury is much sooner forgotten than an insult. Lord Chesterfield domestic-violenceinsult-to-injurytrust
