--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Experience only can teach men not to…" description: "\"Experience only can teach men not to prefer what strikes them for the present moment, to what will have much greater weight with the them hereafter.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/lord-chesterfield-757_experience_experience-only-can-teach-men-not-to-pre_2756349.jpg" --- # Experience only can teach men not to prefer what strikes… ![“Experience only can teach men not to prefer what strikes them for the present moment, to what will have much greater weight with the them hereafter.” quote by Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/lord-chesterfield-757_experience_experience-only-can-teach-men-not-to-pre_2756349.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/lord-chesterfield-757_experience_experience-only-can-teach-men-not-to-pre_2756349.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/lord-chesterfield-757_experience_experience-only-can-teach-men-not-to-pre_2756349.jpg) > “Experience only can teach men not to prefer what strikes them for the present moment, to what will have much greater weight with the them hereafter.” [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. Seek lasting value over fleeting pleasures; prioritize future significance over immediate desire. **In simple terms:** Choose lasting importance over short‑term appeal. Key Takeaway Focus on long‑term impact. Themes values time priorities wisdom Mood contemplative motivational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - financial investing - personal development - legacy building Key Concepts philosophical ethical temporal perspective Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance present joy with future goals? - What sacrifices are worth making now for later benefit? A Different Perspective Immediate gratification can be motivating and necessary at times. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Hereafter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hereafter/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Present moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-moment/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) ## Related quotes > [I am willing to walk toward, and then through, whatever may be seen in the moment as being greater than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/i-am-willing-to-walk-toward-and-then-through-whatever-may-be-seen-in/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [We can teach from our experience, but we cannot teach experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-azevedo/we-can-teach-from-our-experience-but-we-cannot-teach-experience/) [Sasha Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-azevedo/) > [If your education is not enough, experience will teach you lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/if-your-education-is-not-enough-experience-will-teach-you-lessons/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Experience is the best gift you will ever receive because it's only the experience that will teach how to be you .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alemar-saramillas/experience-is-the-best-gift-you-will-ever-receive-because-it-s-only/) Alemar Saramillas > [Experience is something that you can't teach. That feeling of how are you going to make payroll? How are you going to pay your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-scott/experience-is-something-that-you-can-t-teach-that-feeling-of-how-are/) [Kendra Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-scott/) > [I wanted to use my experience to teach kids that racism has no place in hearts and minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-bridges/i-wanted-to-use-my-experience-to-teach-kids-that-racism-has-no-place/) [Ruby Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-bridges/) > [I think experience will teach you a combination of liberalism and conservatism. We have to be progressive and at the same time we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-think-experience-will-teach-you-a-combination-of-liberalism-and/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [experience should teach us that it is always the unexpected that does occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/experience-should-teach-us-that-it-is-always-the-unexpected-that-does/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Men prefer brief praise, pitched high; women are satisfied with praise in a lower key, just so it goes on and on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/men-prefer-brief-praise-pitched-high-women-are-satisfied-with-praise/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [“There are some men who will always prefer to deal with another man, any man, rather than a woman ... I can see him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/there-are-some-men-who-will-always-prefer-to-deal-with-another-man/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [“You see, Ana men think that anything that comes out of a woman's mouth is a problem to be solved. Not some vague idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/you-see-ana-men-think-that-anything-that-comes-out-of-a-woman-s-mouth/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [What is the one thing that 43% of men prefer over sex? Bacon!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-taffer/what-is-the-one-thing-that-43-of-men-prefer-over-sex-bacon/) [Jon Taffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-taffer/) > [I hate flashy metrosexual men. I prefer a rustic man who will make a long-time companion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmapriya-janakiraman/i-hate-flashy-metrosexual-men-i-prefer-a-rustic-man-who-will-make-a/) [Padmapriya Janakiraman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmapriya-janakiraman/) > [I feel like everyone has a preference. You have women who don't like shorter guys. You have women who like taller guys. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sevyn-streeter/i-feel-like-everyone-has-a-preference-you-have-women-who-don-t-like/) [Sevyn Streeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sevyn-streeter/) > [It has been our experience that women usually prefer thin, undernourished, flatchested females, dressed to the teeth, as a concept of "feminine beauty" --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/it-has-been-our-experience-that-women-usually-prefer-thin/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) ## 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 Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) Michael Bugeja > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Experience only can teach men not to prefer what strikes them for the present moment, to what will have much greater weight with the them hereafter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lord Chesterfield" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/experience-only-can-teach-men-not-to-prefer-what-strikes-them-for-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Experience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/experience-only-can-teach-men-not-to-prefer-what-strikes-them-for-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/lord-chesterfield-757_experience_experience-only-can-teach-men-not-to-pre_2756349.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/lord-chesterfield-757_experience_experience-only-can-teach-men-not-to-pre_2756349.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/lord-chesterfield-757_experience_experience-only-can-teach-men-not-to-pre_2756349.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Experience only can teach men not to prefer what strikes them for the present moment, to what will have much…” — Lord Chesterfield", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lord Chesterfield", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Experience only can teach men not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/experience-only-can-teach-men-not-to-prefer-what-strikes-them-for-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/experience-only-can-teach-men-not-to-prefer-what-strikes-them-for-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```