Nature has hardly formed a woman ugly enough to be insensible to flattery upon her person. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Human nature is the same everywhere; the modes only are different. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
In nature the most violent passions are silent; in tragedy they must speak and speak with dignity too. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Nothing is more dissimilar than natural and acquired politeness. The first consists in a willing abnegation of self; the second in a… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Whatever poets may write, or fools believe, of rural innocence and truth, and of the perfidy of courts, this is most undoubtedly… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
How often should a woman be pregnant? Continually, or hardly ever? Or must there be a certain number of pregnancy anniversaries established… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Good breeding and good nature do incline us rather to help and raise people up to ourselves, than to mortify and depress… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
The rulers of the earth are all worth knowing; they suggest moral reflections: and the respect that one naturally has for God's… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Deafness produces bizarre effects, reversing the natural order of things; the interchange of letters is the conversation of the deaf, and the… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
This is the day when people reciprocally offer, and receive, the kindest and the warmest wishes, though, in general, without meaning them… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Though we cannot totally change our nature, we may in great measure correct it by reflection and philosophy; and some philosophy is… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
I knew a gentleman who was so good a manager of his time that he would not even lose that small portion… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Without any extraordinary effort of genius, I have discovered that nature was the same three thousand years ago as at present; that… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share
No woman ever yet either reasoned or acted long together consequentially; but some little thing, some love, some resentment, somepresent momentary interest, some supposed… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share
I am in the pitiable situation of feeling all the force of temptation without having the strength to succumb to it. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share
Mankind is made up of inconsistencies, and no man acts invariably up to his predominant character. The wisest man sometimes acts weakly, and the… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share
Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken, and cost nothing but pen, ink and paper. I consider them as draughts upon good breeding, where… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share
The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be; because he shows you, by his manner,… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share
“Secret thoughts and an open countenance will take you safely the world over” — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share
Virtue and learning, like gold, have their intrinsic value: but if they are not polished, they certainly lose a great deal of their luster:… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share
Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in an advanced age; and if we do not plant it while young,… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share
It is commonly said that ridicule is the best test of truth; for that it will not stick where it is not just. I… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share
There is hardly any place or any company where you may not gain knowledge, if you please; almost everybody knows some one thing, and… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share
Assurance and intrepidity, under the white banner of seeming modesty, clear the way for merit, that would otherwise be discouraged by difficulties... — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share
