Bad company Quote by Lord Chesterfield
“If you love music hear it; go to operas, concerts, and pay fiddlers to play to you; but I insist upon your neither piping nor fiddling yourself. It puts a gentleman in a very frivolous, contemptible light; brings him into a great deal of bad company; and takes up a great deal of time, which might be much better employed.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Letters to His Son, 1748
Advocates appreciating music as a listener, not as a performer, to avoid appearing frivolous and wasting time.
In simple terms: Enjoy music, don’t try to perform it yourself.
Key Takeaway
Listen, don’t play.
Themes
culture
etiquette
time management
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- social gatherings
- personal development
- leisure activities
Key Concepts
social status
self‑presentation
Questions to Reflect On
- What activities could replace this time?
A Different Perspective
May missingplaying” music also be a valuable skill?
![“In the house of a Fidler, all fiddle. [In the house of the fiddler all fiddle.]” quote by George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b11/george-herbert-107_fiddle_in-the-house-of-a-fidler-all-fiddle-in-t_4810.jpg)
![“Competition is a bad company [kusang, the company which will bring our downfall].” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/200/dada-bhagwan-31_bad-company_competition-is-a-bad-company-kusang-the_188317.jpg)
