--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would rather have a young fellow too…" description: "\"I would rather have a young fellow too much than too little dressed; the excess on that side will wear off, with a little age and reflection; but if he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/lord-chesterfield-757_age_i-would-rather-have-a-young-fellow-too-m_1144414.jpg" --- # I would rather have a young fellow too much than too… ![“I would rather have a young fellow too much than too little dressed; the excess on that side will wear off, with a little age and reflection; but if he is negligent at twenty, he will be a sloven at forty, and stink at fifty years old. Dress yourself fine where others are fine, and plain where…” quote by Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/lord-chesterfield-757_age_i-would-rather-have-a-young-fellow-too-m_1144414.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/lord-chesterfield-757_age_i-would-rather-have-a-young-fellow-too-m_1144414.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/lord-chesterfield-757_age_i-would-rather-have-a-young-fellow-too-m_1144414.jpg) > “I would rather have a young fellow too much than too little dressed; the excess on that side will wear off, with a little age and reflection; but if he is negligent at twenty, he will be a sloven at forty, and stink at fifty years old. Dress yourself fine where others are fine, and plain where others are plain; but take care always that your clothes are well made and fit you, for otherwise they will give you a very awkward air.” [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. A warning that early neglect of personal appearance leads to lasting poor reputation, while modesty and quality in dress preserve dignity. **In simple terms:** Neglecting appearance early harms reputation; proper dress maintains respect. Key Takeaway Dress appropriately and invest in quality clothing. Themes appearance reputation modesty quality self‑respect Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type advice observational When to use this quote - job interviews - social gatherings - professional settings - daily routines Key Concepts social perception personal branding long‑term image Questions to Reflect On - How does your current attire reflect your self‑image? - What steps can you take to improve your wardrobe quality? A Different Perspective Neglecting early habits may be hard to reverse later. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Excess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excess/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Fifty year olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fifty-year-olds/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Reflection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflection/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) ## Related quotes > [If you are only an underling, don't dress too fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/if-you-are-only-an-underling-don-t-dress-too-fine/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [A young fellow ought to be wiser than he should seem to be; and an old fellow ought to seem wise whether he really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/a-young-fellow-ought-to-be-wiser-than-he-should-seem-to-be-and-an-old/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [If you're short, don't wear extremely high heels. After a certain age, you shouldn't wear little girls' clothes. That's going against your nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/if-you-re-short-don-t-wear-extremely-high-heels-after-a-certain-age/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [Often it isn't the mountains ahead that wear you out, it's the little pebble in your shoe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/often-it-isn-t-the-mountains-ahead-that-wear-you-out-it-s-the-little/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Men are attached to two types of women : those who wear well and those who wear little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/men-are-attached-to-two-types-of-women-those-who-wear-well-and-those/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Pretty much the only thing I wear is either a little bit of concealer or a bronzer, and that's it. And highlighter, of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ren/pretty-much-the-only-thing-i-wear-is-either-a-little-bit-of-concealer/) [Alexis Ren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ren/) > [I'll wear little dresses for a look and then it'll become only shorts for a while or only t-shirts for a while. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odeya-rush/i-ll-wear-little-dresses-for-a-look-and-then-it-ll-become-only-shorts/) [Odeya Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odeya-rush/) > [I’ve been enjoying a couple of post-Oscar burgers. So I didn’t fit into a lot of the vintage stuff. I wanted to wear something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/i-ve-been-enjoying-a-couple-of-post-oscar-burgers-so-i-didn-t-fit/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [I can't wear a little makeup. I have to wear a lot of makeup or no makeup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsey-johnson/i-can-t-wear-a-little-makeup-i-have-to-wear-a-lot-of-makeup-or-no/) [Betsey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsey-johnson/) > [At about six in the morning of July 3, 1860, while I was watering my petunias, and thinking of nothing in particular, I perceived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-francois-valentin-about/at-about-six-in-the-morning-of-july-3-1860-while-i-was-watering-my/) Edmond Francois Valentin About > [“And then again, I am no longer quite such a good-looking young fellow that tapestries leap off the wall in my honour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophile-gautier/and-then-again-i-am-no-longer-quite-such-a-good-looking-young-fellow/) [Théophile Gautier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophile-gautier/) > [My dear young fellow,' the Old-Green-Grasshopper said gently, 'there are a whole lot of things in this world of ours you haven't started wondering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/my-dear-young-fellow-the-old-green-grasshopper-said-gently-there-are/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“The handsome young fellow who's trying to rescue you from a hideous fate is never wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/the-handsome-young-fellow-who-s-trying-to-rescue-you-from-a-hideous/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [After all, there's only one aswer to be made to the young fellow who is asking constantly for advice as to how to hit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-ruth/after-all-there-s-only-one-aswer-to-be-made-to-the-young-fellow-who/) [Babe Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-ruth/) > [“It is hard luck on a young fellow to have expensive tastes, great expectations, aristocratic connections but no actual money in his pocket, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-is-hard-luck-on-a-young-fellow-to-have-expensive-tastes-great/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) ## 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. 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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 Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. 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Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? 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That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would rather have a young fellow too much than too little dressed; the excess on that side will wear off, with a little age and reflection; but if he is negligent at twenty, he will be a sloven at forty, and stink at fifty years old. 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