A man's own good breeding is the best security against other people's ill manners. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Love has been not unaptly compared to the small-pox, which most people have sooner or later. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
People will no more advance their civility to a bear, than their money to a bankrupt. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Either a good or a bad reputation outruns and gets before people wherever they go. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
The best way to compel weak-minded people to adopt our opinion, is to frighten them from all others, by magnifying their danger. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
The manner of your speaking is full as important as the matter, as more people have ears to be tickled than understandings… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Cautiously avoid speaking of the domestic affairs either of yourself, or of other people. Yours are nothing to them but tedious gossip;… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Observe any meetings of people, and you will always find their eagerness and impetuosity rise or fall in proportion to their numbers. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
It is good breeding alone that can prepossess people in your favor at first sight, more time being necessary to discover greater… — 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
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
Two people cannot be alone together for upwards of half an hour without one emerging as the superior. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Endeavor, as much as you can, to keep company with people above you… Do not mistake, when I say company above you,… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
I am provoked at the contempt which most historians show for humanity in general; one would think by them, that the whole… — 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
A seeming ignorance is very often a most necessary part of worldly knowledge. It is, for instance, commonly advisable to seem ignorant… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
People will, in a great degree, and not without reason, form their opinion of you upon that which they have of your… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
You should not only have attention to everything, but a quickness of attention, so as to observe at once all the people… — 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
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
Great merit or great failings will make you respected or despised; but trifles, little attentions, mere nothings, either done or neglected, will… — 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
Many young people adopt pleasures for which they have not the least taste, only because they are called by that name… You… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
The vulgar only laugh, but never smile; whereas well-bred people often smile, but seldom laugh. — 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
Most people have ears, but few have judgment; tickle those ears, and depend upon it, you will catch their judgments, such as… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Dancing is, in itself, a very trifling and silly thing: but it is one of those established follies to which people of… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
The New Year is the season in which custom seems more particularly to authorize civil and harmless lies, under the name of… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Religion is by no means a proper subject of conversation in mixed company; it should only be treated among a very few… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Many people come into company full of what they intend to say in it themselves, without the least regard to others; and… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
I have seen many people, who while you are speaking to them, instead, of looking at, and attending to you, fix their… — 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
There are people who indulge themselves in a sort of lying, which they reckon innocent, and which in one sense is so;… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Those who see and observe kings, heroes, and statesmen, discover that they have headaches, indigestion, humors and passions, just like other people;… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Keep your own secret, and get out other people's. Keep your own temper, and artfully warm other people's. Counterwork your rivalswith diligence… — 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
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
