When one is at play, one should not think of one's learning. Lord Chesterfield More Quotes by Lord Chesterfield More Quotes From Lord Chesterfield Mankind is made up of inconsistencies, and no man acts invariably up to his predominant character. The wisest man sometimes acts weakly, and the weakest sometimes wisely. Lord Chesterfield wisest-mancharactermen Cautiously avoid speaking of the domestic affairs either of yourself, or of other people. Yours are nothing to them but tedious gossip; and theirs are nothing to you. Lord Chesterfield gossipfamilypeople If you will please people, you must please them in their own way. Lord Chesterfield pleasepeopleway Women are all so far Machiavellians that they are never either good or bad by halves; their passions are too strong, and their reason too weak, to do anything with moderation. Lord Chesterfield womenpassionstrong He adorned whatever subject he either spoke or wrote upon, by the most splendid eloquence. Lord Chesterfield splendidinspirationalcharacter No woman ever yet either reasoned or acted long together consequentially; but some little thing, some love, some resentment, somepresent momentary interest, some supposed slight, or some humour, always breaks in upon, and oversets their most prudent resolutions and schemes. Lord Chesterfield womentogetherlong It is reported here that the King of Prussia has gone mad and has been locked up. There would be nothing bad about that: at leastthat might of his would no longer be a menace, and you could breathe freely for a while. I much prefer madmen who are locked up to those who are not. Lord Chesterfield prussiamadkings Should you be unfortunate enough to have vices, you may, to a certain degree, even dignify them by a strict observance of decorum;at least they will lose something of their natural turpitude. Lord Chesterfield degreesvicesmay It seems to me that physical sickness softens, just as moral sickness hardens, the heart. Lord Chesterfield sicknessmoralheart Let it be your maxim through life, to know all you can know, yourself; and never to trust implicitly to the information of others. Lord Chesterfield independencetrustknowledge History is but a confused heap of facts. Lord Chesterfield confusedhistoryfacts There never were, since the creation of the world, two cases exactly parallel. Lord Chesterfield earthtwoworld When a man is once in fashion, all he does is right. Lord Chesterfield fashiondoemen A certain degree of ceremony is a necessary outwork of manners, as well as of religion; it keeps the forward and petulant at a proper distance, and is a very small restraint to the sensible and to the well-bred part of the world. Lord Chesterfield degreesdistanceworld Endeavor, as much as you can, to keep company with people above you.... Do not mistake, when I say company above you, and think that I mean with regard to their birth; that is the least consideration; but I mean with regard to their merit, and the light in which the world considers them. Lord Chesterfield mistakemeanthinking There is a certain jargon, which, in French, I should call un Persiflage d'Affaires, that a foreign Minister ought to be perfectlymaster of, and may be used very advantageously at great entertainments, in mixed companies, and in all occasions where he must speak, and should say nothing. Well turned and well spoken, it seems to mean something, though in truth it means nothing. It is a kind of political badinage, which prevents or removes a thousand difficulties, to which a foreign Minister is exposed in mixed conversations. Lord Chesterfield jargonpoliticalmean Never write down your speeches beforehand; if you do, you may perhaps be a good declaimer, but will never be a debater. Lord Chesterfield speechwritingmay The French manner of hunting is gentlemanlike; ours is only for bumpkins and bodies. The poor beasts here are pursued and run downby much greater beasts than themselves; and the true British fox-hunter is most undoubtedly a species appropriated and peculiar to this country, which no other part of the globe produces. Lord Chesterfield huntingrunningcountry Elegance of manner is the outgrowth of refined and exalted sense. Lord Chesterfield refinedexaltedelegance The receipt to make a speaker, and an applauded one too, is short and easy. Take common sense quantum sufficit; add a little application to the rules and orders of the House [of Commons], throw obvious thoughts in a new light, and make up the whole with a large quantity of purity, correctness and elegancy of style. Take it for granted that by far the greatest part of mankind neither analyze nor search to the bottom; they are incapable of penetrating deeper than the surface. Lord Chesterfield common-senselightorder
