--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man's fortune is frequently decided by…" description: "\"A man's fortune is frequently decided by his first address. If pleasing, others at once conclude he has merit; but if ungraceful, they decide against h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9e/lord-chesterfield-757_addresses_a-man-s-fortune-is-frequently-decided-by_2285464.jpg" --- # A man's fortune is frequently decided by his first… ![“A man's fortune is frequently decided by his first address. If pleasing, others at once conclude he has merit; but if ungraceful, they decide against him.” quote by Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9e/lord-chesterfield-757_addresses_a-man-s-fortune-is-frequently-decided-by_2285464.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9e/lord-chesterfield-757_addresses_a-man-s-fortune-is-frequently-decided-by_2285464.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9e/lord-chesterfield-757_addresses_a-man-s-fortune-is-frequently-decided-by_2285464.jpg) > “A man's fortune is frequently decided by his first address. If pleasing, others at once conclude he has merit; but if ungraceful, they decide against him.” [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. First impressions shape reputation; courteous speech can earn respect, while rudeness can ruin it. **In simple terms:** Politeness wins; rudeness loses. Key Takeaway Cultivate gracious communication. Themes etiquette reputation communication Mood thoughtful practical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - job interviews - networking events - first dates Key Concepts social psychology sociolinguistics Questions to Reflect On - How will you make a positive first impression? - Can you recover from a poor first impression? A Different Perspective People may change opinions over time despite first impressions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Addresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addresses/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Decided Address](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided-address-5349578/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Fortune Frequently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune-frequently-4060425/) [Frequently Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frequently-decided-5349577/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Man Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-fortune-531955/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merit/) [Pleasing others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasing-others/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [Men would never be superstitious, if they could govern all their circumstancesby set rules, or if they were always favoured by fortune: but being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/men-would-never-be-superstitious-if-they-could-govern-all-their-2/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [This, more than anything else, is what I have never understood about your people. You can roll dice, and understand that the whole game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/this-more-than-anything-else-is-what-i-have-never-understood-about/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“If you tempted a poor man with a fortune, who could blame the fellow for taking what he could?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/if-you-tempted-a-poor-man-with-a-fortune-who-could-blame-the-fellow/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [It cannot be denied that outward accidents conduce much to fortune, favor, opportunity, death of others, occasion fitting virtue; but chiefly, the mold of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/it-cannot-be-denied-that-outward-accidents-conduce-much-to-fortune/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Chiefly the mold of a man's fortune is in his own hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/chiefly-the-mold-of-a-man-s-fortune-is-in-his-own-hands/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [There is scarcely an instance of a man who has made a fortune by speculation and kept it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/there-is-scarcely-an-instance-of-a-man-who-has-made-a-fortune-by/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [“I heard of a man who made a fortune selling homing pigeons, and he only had the one!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-heard-of-a-man-who-made-a-fortune-selling-homing-pigeons-and-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Health is the working man's fortune, and he ought to watch over it more than the capitalist over his largest investments. Health lightens the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/health-is-the-working-man-s-fortune-and-he-ought-to-watch-over-it/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [“Chiefly, the mould of a man's fortune is in his own hands, so why to look for excuses around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/chiefly-the-mould-of-a-man-s-fortune-is-in-his-own-hands-so-why-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The mould of a man's fortune is in his own hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon-sr/the-mould-of-a-man-s-fortune-is-in-his-own-hands/) [Francis Bacon Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon-sr/) > [The truth brings no man a fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/the-truth-brings-no-man-a-fortune/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The folly of one man is the fortune of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-folly-of-one-man-is-the-fortune-of-another/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [If a man's fortune does not fit him, it is like the shoe in the story; if too large it trips him up, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/if-a-man-s-fortune-does-not-fit-him-it-is-like-the-shoe-in-the-story/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“At the end of the street was a large glass box with a female mannequin inside it, dressed as a gypsy fortune teller. “Now,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/at-the-end-of-the-street-was-a-large-glass-box-with-a-female/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Troubles are usually brooms and shovels that smooth the road to the good man's fortune; and many a man curses the rain that falls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-basil/troubles-are-usually-brooms-and-shovels-that-smooth-the-road-to-the/) [St Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-basil/) ## More by Lord Chesterfield > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [No woman ever yet either reasoned or acted long together consequentially; but some little thing, some love, some resentment, somepresent momentary interest, some supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/no-woman-ever-yet-either-reasoned-or-acted-long-together/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [I am in the pitiable situation of feeling all the force of temptation without having the strength to succumb to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/i-am-in-the-pitiable-situation-of-feeling-all-the-force-of-temptation/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Mankind is made up of inconsistencies, and no man acts invariably up to his predominant character. The wisest man sometimes acts weakly, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/mankind-is-made-up-of-inconsistencies-and-no-man-acts-invariably-up/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken, and cost nothing but pen, ink and paper. I consider them as draughts upon good breeding, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/compliments-of-congratulation-are-always-kindly-taken-and-cost/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be; because he shows you, by his manner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/the-insolent-civility-of-a-proud-man-is-if-possible-more-shocking/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“Secret thoughts and an open countenance will take you safely the world over”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/secret-thoughts-and-an-open-countenance-will-take-you-safely-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Virtue and learning, like gold, have their intrinsic value: but if they are not polished, they certainly lose a great deal of their luster:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/virtue-and-learning-like-gold-have-their-intrinsic-value-but-if-they/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in an advanced age; and if we do not plant it while young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/knowledge-is-a-comfortable-and-necessary-retreat-and-shelter-for-us/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Promptness is the soul of business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/promptness-is-the-soul-of-business/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Style is the dress of thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/style-is-the-dress-of-thoughts/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [It is commonly said that ridicule is the best test of truth; for that it will not stick where it is not just. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/it-is-commonly-said-that-ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-for-that/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [There is hardly any place or any company where you may not gain knowledge, if you please; almost everybody knows some one thing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/there-is-hardly-any-place-or-any-company-where-you-may-not-gain/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Assurance and intrepidity, under the white banner of seeming modesty, clear the way for merit, that would otherwise be discouraged by difficulties...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/assurance-and-intrepidity-under-the-white-banner-of-seeming-modesty/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“Many a man would rather you heard his story than grant his request.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/many-a-man-would-rather-you-heard-his-story-than-grant-his-request/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) [Explore all 378 Lord Chesterfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) ## More Addresses quotes > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... 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We will NEVER sell, rent, loan, or abuse your email address in ANY way. Writing has been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/each-email-contains-an-unsubscribe-link-we-will-never-sell-rent-loan/) [Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/) > [The malady of civilized man is his knowledge of death. The good artist, like the wise man, addresses himself to life and invests with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-malady-of-civilized-man-is-his-knowledge-of-death-the-good-artist/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [In science, address the few, in literature the many. 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