--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only sure way of avoiding these evils…" description: "\"The only sure way of avoiding these evils [vanity and boasting] is never to speak of yourself at all. But when, historically, youare obliged to mention..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/lord-chesterfield-757_applause_the-only-sure-way-of-avoiding-these-evil_2803297.jpg" --- # The only sure way of avoiding these evils \[vanity and… ![“The only sure way of avoiding these evils [vanity and boasting] is never to speak of yourself at all. But when, historically, youare obliged to mention yourself, take care not to drop one single word that can directly or indirectly be construed as fishing for applause.” quote by Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/lord-chesterfield-757_applause_the-only-sure-way-of-avoiding-these-evil_2803297.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/lord-chesterfield-757_applause_the-only-sure-way-of-avoiding-these-evil_2803297.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/lord-chesterfield-757_applause_the-only-sure-way-of-avoiding-these-evil_2803297.jpg) > “The only sure way of avoiding these evils \[vanity and boasting\] is never to speak of yourself at all. But when, historically, youare obliged to mention yourself, take care not to drop one single word that can directly or indirectly be construed as fishing for applause.” [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. Avoid self-praise to prevent vanity; when self-reference is unavoidable, keep it modest and free of self‑aggrandizement. **In simple terms:** Don’t brag; be humble. Key Takeaway Speak modestly about yourself when needed. Themes humility vanity communication self‑presentation Mood considerate pragmatic Type advice ethical When to use this quote - networking - public speaking - self‑promotion Key Concepts social etiquette self‑esteem public speaking Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to mention your achievements? - How can you convey competence without boasting? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on self can damage credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) [Avoiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding/) [Boast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boast/) [Boasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boasting/) [Boasting Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boasting-speak-3466017/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Egotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egotism/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Fishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishing/) [Mention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mention/) [Obliged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obliged/) [Obliged Mention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obliged-mention-3466018/) [Single word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-word/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Take care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take-care/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) [Vanity Boasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity-boasting-3466016/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Lord Bacon told Sir Edward Coke when he was boasting, The less you speak of your greatness, the more shall I think of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/lord-bacon-told-sir-edward-coke-when-he-was-boasting-the-less-you/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Dancing is, in itself, a very trifling and silly thing: but it is one of those established follies to which people of sense are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/dancing-is-in-itself-a-very-trifling-and-silly-thing-but-it-is-one-of/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [I knew a gentleman who was so good a manager of his time that he would not even lose that small portion of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/i-knew-a-gentleman-who-was-so-good-a-manager-of-his-time-that-he/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“No one can take credit for inspiration or creativity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-brackin/no-one-can-take-credit-for-inspiration-or-creativity/) [Ron Brackin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-brackin/) > [“I can arrogantly brag that the doors I choose in life open wide and grant me unobstructed passage. But the widest doors tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-can-arrogantly-brag-that-the-doors-i-choose-in-life-open-wide-and/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Every lover's lament has an element of boasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/every-lover-s-lament-has-an-element-of-boasting/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“I'm boasting of my...skills, and I would prefer to do it without interruption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-boasting-of-my-skills-and-i-would-prefer-to-do-it-without/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Confidence cannot escalate to arrogance, it only happens if the blood of pride is running through your veins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/confidence-cannot-escalate-to-arrogance-it-only-happens-if-the-blood/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [When boasting ends, there dignity begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-d-young/when-boasting-ends-there-dignity-begins/) [Owen D. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-d-young/) > [Hopefully, when your actions and deeds - and therefore other people - boast for you, you're made tired of hearing it, too, from your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/hopefully-when-your-actions-and-deeds-and-therefore-other-people/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“The satisfactions of manifesting oneself concretely in the world through manual competence have been known to make a man quiet and easy. They seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-b-crawford/the-satisfactions-of-manifesting-oneself-concretely-in-the-world/) [Matthew B. Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-b-crawford/) > [Boasting is only a masked shame; it does not truly believe in itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/boasting-is-only-a-masked-shame-it-does-not-truly-believe-in-itself/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“A classic is read not to enjoy but only to be boast about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aman-jassal/a-classic-is-read-not-to-enjoy-but-only-to-be-boast-about-it/) [Aman Jassal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aman-jassal/) > [“A session of boasting won't attract any real friends.  It will set you up on a pedestal, however, making you a clearer target.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/a-session-of-boasting-won-t-attract-any-real-friends-it-will-set-you/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Win without boasting. Lose without excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-payson-terhune/win-without-boasting-lose-without-excuse/) [Albert Payson Terhune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-payson-terhune/) ## 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 Applause quotes > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [“In due course I would learn how to cover up for this event, but on that awful day I knew of nothing to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pryor/in-due-course-i-would-learn-how-to-cover-up-for-this-event-but-on/) [Karen Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pryor/) > [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“i nod to the other will grayson, up onstage. he nods to me. we have something between us, him and me. but the truth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-nod-to-the-other-will-grayson-up-onstage-he-nods-to-me-we-have/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [ All the shows we did pre-airdate, and I'd come out - "Rob Lowe!" - and it was \[Offers bored applause.\] After the show aired?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/all-the-shows-we-did-pre-airdate-and-i-d-come-out-rob-lowe-and-it-was/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [“Those who do soul work, who want the searing truth more than solace or applause, know each other right away. Those who want something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/those-who-do-soul-work-who-want-the-searing-truth-more-than-solace-or/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's defender.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-clear-that-the-future-of-freedom-and-peace-depend-on-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [If anyone ever boos you off stage, that is simply applause from ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/if-anyone-ever-boos-you-off-stage-that-is-simply-applause-from-ghosts/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [“A magician must always value his magic effects more than himself, because after few years audience may not remember his name but they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-magician-must-always-value-his-magic-effects-more-than-himself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When I got through, Duke Ellington stood up and started the applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brown/when-i-got-through-duke-ellington-stood-up-and-started-the-applause/) [Ruth Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-brown/) > [The beauteous dragonfly's dancing By the waves of the rivulet glancing; She dances here and she dances there, The glimmering, glittering flutterer fair. Full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/the-beauteous-dragonfly-s-dancing-by-the-waves-of-the-rivulet/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [You can copy, but hold the applause you get the satisfaction of mind can not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/you-can-copy-but-hold-the-applause-you-get-the-satisfaction-of-mind/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Qv5YUc A round of applause for your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oem-software-buy/qv5yuc-a-round-of-applause-for-your-blog-really-looking-forward-to/) [Oem Software Buy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oem-software-buy/) [Browse all 556 Applause quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only sure way of avoiding these evils [vanity and boasting] is never to speak of yourself at all. 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