An honest man may really love a pretty girl, but only an idiot marries her merely because she is pretty. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
It is hard to say which is the greatest fool: he who tells the whole truth, or he who tells no truth… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
A cheerful, easy, open countenance will make fools think you a good-natured man, and make designing men think you an undesigning one. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
A man of sense soon discovers, because he carefully observes, where and how long he is welcome; and takes care to leave… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
A vulgar man is captious and jealous; eager and impetuous about trifles. He suspects himself to be slighted, and thinks everything that… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Truth, but not the whole truth, must be the invariable principle of every man who hath either religion, honour, or prudence. Thosewho… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
The company of women of fashion will improve your manners, though not your understanding; and that complaisance and politeness, which are so… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Keep carefully not of all scrapes and quarrels. They lower a character extremely; and are particularly dangerous in France, wherea man is… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Few men are of one plain, decided color; most are mixed, shaded, and blended; and vary as much, from different situations, as… — 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
Never yield to that temptation, which, to most young men, is very strong, of exposing other people's weaknesses and infirmities, for the… — 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
Vulgarism in language is the distinguishing characteristic of bad company, and a bad education. A man of fashion avoids nothing with more… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Women of fashion and character--I do not mean absolutely unblemished--are a necessary ingredient in the composition of good company; the attention which… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Wrongs are often forgiven, but contempt never is. Our pride remembers it forever. It implies a discovery of weakness, which we are… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Loud laughter is the mirth of the mob, who are only pleased with silly things; for true Wit or good Sense never… — 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
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
Second-rate knowledge, and middling talents, carry a man farther at courts, and in the busy part of the world, than superior knowledge… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Cardinal Mazarin was a great knave, but no great man; much more cunning than able; scandalously false and dirtily greedy. — 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,… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
An ignorant man is insignificant and contemptible; nobody cares for his company, and he can just be said to live, and that… — 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
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
No man tastes pleasures truly, who does not earn them by previous business; and few people do business well, who do nothing… — 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
A man who owes a little can clear it off in a very little time, and, if he is a prudent man,… — 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
Men have various subjects in which they may excel, or at least would be thought to excel, and though they love to… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
In the course of the world, a man must very often put on an easy, frank countenance, upon very disagreeable occasions; he… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
The law before us, my lords, seems to be the effect of that practice of which it is intended likewise to be… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Civility, which is a disposition to accommodate and oblige others, is essentially the same in every country; but good breeding, asit is… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
I am not of the opinion generally entertained in this country [England], that man lives by Greek and Latin alone; that is,… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Young men are as apt to think themselves wise enough, as drunken men are to think themselves sober enough. They look upon… — 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
A proper secrecy is the only mystery of able men; mystery is the only secrecy of weak and cunning ones. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Every man is to be had one way or another and every woman almost anyway. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Experience only can teach men not to prefer what strikes them for the present moment, to what will have much greater weight… — 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
![“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…” quote by Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8ad/lord-chesterfield-757_amusement_i-am-not-of-the-opinion-generally-entert_1598465.jpg)
