Words are the dress of thoughts; which should no more be presented in rags, tatters, and dirt than your person should. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
A man who cannot command his temper, his attention, and his countenance should not think of being a man of business. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Very ugly or very beautiful women should be flattered on their understanding, and mediocre ones on their beauty. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
A man who cannot command his temper should not think of being a man in business. — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
Should you be unfortunate enough to have vices, you may, to a certain degree, even dignify them by a strict observance 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
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
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
A young fellow ought to be wiser than he should seem to be; and an old fellow ought to seem wise whether… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
One should always think of what one is about; when one is learning, one should not think of play; and when one… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
I do not think that a Physician should be admitted into the College till he could bring proofs of his having cured,… — 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
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
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
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
... to me it appears strange that the men against whom I should be enabled to bring an action for laying a… — 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
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
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
Were you to converse with a king, you ought to be as easy and unembarrassed as with your own valet-de chambre; but… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
There is a certain jargon, which, in French, I should call un Persiflage d'Affaires, that a foreign Minister ought to be perfectlymaster… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
I could wish there were a treaty made between the French and the English theatres, in which both parties should make considerableconcessions.… — 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
I really think next to the consciousness of doing a good action, that of doing a civil one is the most pleasing;… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
One of the greatest difficulties in civil war is, that more art is required to know what should be concealed from our… — Lord Chesterfield Copy Share Image
The herd of mankind can hardly be said to think; their notions are almost all adoptive; and, in general, I believe it… — 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
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
