Bottom Quote by Lord Chesterfield
“Whatever you do, do it to the purpose; do it thoroughly, not superficially. Go to the bottom of things. Any thing half done, or half known, is in my mind, neither done nor known at all. Nay, worse, for it often misleads.”
About This Quote
Thoroughness prevents half‑finished work that misleads; aim for depth and completeness.
In simple terms: Do things fully, not half‑done.
Pursue depth, avoid superficiality.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research projects
- skill mastery
- quality control processes
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When is depth more valuable than speed?
- How can you balance thoroughness with efficiency?
May be time‑consuming and impractical in fast‑paced contexts.