You must embrace the man you hate, if you cannot be justified in knocking him down — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
I have, by long experience, found women to be like Telephus's spear: if one end kills, the other cures. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
If you will please people, you must please them in their own way; and as you cannot make them what they should… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
The value of moments, when cast up, is immense, if well employed; if thrown away, their loss is irrecoverable. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Never hold anyone by the button or the hand in order to be heard out; for if people are unwilling to hear… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Never write down your speeches beforehand; if you do, you may perhaps be a good declaimer, but will never be a debater. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
A man's fortune is frequently decided by his first address. If pleasing, others at once conclude he has merit; but if ungraceful,… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
If originally it was not good for a man to be alone, it is much worse for a sick man to be… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
The greatest dangers have their allurements, if the want of success is likely to be attended with a degree of glory. Middling… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
A wise man will live as much within his wit as his income… Bear this truth always in your mind, that you… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be; because he shows you, by… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Virtue and learning, like gold, have their intrinsic value: but if they are not polished, they certainly lose a great deal of… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
All ceremonies are in themselves very silly things; but yet, a man of the world should know them. They are the outworks… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Not to perceive the little weaknesses and the idle but innocent affectations of the company may be allowable as a sort of… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
If you wish particularly to gain the good graces and affection of certain people, men or women, try to discover their most… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
A man of the best parts and greatest learning, if he does not know the world by his own experience and observation,… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
The vulgar look upon a man, who is reckoned a fine speaker, as a phenomenon, a supernatural being, and endowed with some… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Vanity, or to call it by a gentler name, the desire of admiration and applause, is, perhaps, the most universal principle of… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
One man affirms that he has rode post a hundred miles in six hours; probably it is a lie; but supposing it… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
I would rather have a young fellow too much than too little dressed; the excess on that side will wear off, with… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
A foreign minister, I will maintain it, can never be a good man of business if he is not an agreeable man… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
If a marriage is going to work well, it must be on a solid footing, namely money, and of that commodity it… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
There is not a more prudent maxim, than to live with one's enemies as if they may one day become one's friends;… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in an advanced age; and if we do not plant it… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Talk often, but never long; in that case, if you do not please, at least you are sure not to tire your… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Mind not only what people say, but how they say it; and if you have any sagacity, you may discover more truth… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Next to clothes being fine, they should be well made, and worn easily; for a man is only the less genteel for… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
If a man, notoriously and designedly, insults and affronts you, knock him down; but if he only injures you, your best revenge… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
There is hardly any place or any company where you may not gain knowledge, if you please; almost everybody knows some one… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Learn to shrink yourself to the size of the company you are in. Take their tone, whatever it may be, and excell… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
If you will please people, you must please them in their own way. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
If you have wit, use it to please and not to hurt: you may shine like the sun in the temperate zones… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Letters should be easy and natural, and convey to the persons to whom we send them just what we should say to… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Style is the dress of thoughts; and let them be ever so just, if your style is homely, coarse, and vulgar, they… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
I always put these pert jackanapeses out of countenance by looking extremely grave when they expect that I should laugh at their… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Take rather than give the tone to the company you are in. If you have parts you will show them more or… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
If you love music hear it; go to operas, concerts, and pay fiddlers to play to you; but I insist upon your… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
The great, the rich, the powerful, too often bestow their favours upon their inferiors in the manner they bestow their scraps upontheir… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Let your letter be written as accurately as you are able,--I mean with regard to language, grammar, and stops; for as to… — 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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
“Secret thoughts and an open countenance will take you safely the world over” — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
