--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a certain jargon, which, in…" description: "\"There is a certain jargon, which, in French, I should call un Persiflage d'Affaires, that a foreign Minister ought to be perfectlymaster of, and may be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67f/lord-chesterfield-757_all-occasions_there-is-a-certain-jargon-which-in-frenc_1307658.jpg" --- # There is a certain jargon, which, in French, I should call… ![“There is a certain jargon, which, in French, I should call un Persiflage d'Affaires, that a foreign Minister ought to be perfectlymaster of, and may be used very advantageously at great entertainments, in mixed companies, and in all occasions where he must speak, and should say nothing. Well…” quote by Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67f/lord-chesterfield-757_all-occasions_there-is-a-certain-jargon-which-in-frenc_1307658.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67f/lord-chesterfield-757_all-occasions_there-is-a-certain-jargon-which-in-frenc_1307658.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67f/lord-chesterfield-757_all-occasions_there-is-a-certain-jargon-which-in-frenc_1307658.jpg) > “There is a certain jargon, which, in French, I should call un Persiflage d'Affaires, that a foreign Minister ought to be perfectlymaster of, and may be used very advantageously at great entertainments, in mixed companies, and in all occasions where he must speak, and should say nothing. Well turned and well spoken, it seems to mean something, though in truth it means nothing. It is a kind of political badinage, which prevents or removes a thousand difficulties, to which a foreign Minister is exposed in mixed conversations.” [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 diplomat should master witty, superficial talk to navigate social settings without revealing substance. **In simple terms:** Use clever talk to avoid saying anything important. Key Takeaway Speak skillfully, say little. Themes diplomacy communication politics Mood cautious strategic Type advice observational When to use this quote - formal dinners - political negotiations - media interviews - networking events Key Concepts rhetoric social maneuvering evasion Questions to Reflect On - How does empty rhetoric affect credibility? - When is silence more powerful than speech? A Different Perspective May lead to mistrust if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All occasions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-occasions/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Jargon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jargon/) [Occasions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasions/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) ## Related quotes > [A foreign minister, I will maintain it, can never be a good man of business if he is not an agreeable man of pleasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/a-foreign-minister-i-will-maintain-it-can-never-be-a-good-man-of/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“THE British foreign minister,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurent-binet/the-british-foreign-minister/) [Laurent Binet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurent-binet/) > [I was a member of the Politburo for seven years, a foreign minister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduard-shevardnadze/i-was-a-member-of-the-politburo-for-seven-years-a-foreign-minister/) [Eduard Shevardnadze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduard-shevardnadze/) > [I feel strongly from my experience of serving as foreign minister for four years and eight months that there is nothing stronger than diplomacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumio-kishida/i-feel-strongly-from-my-experience-of-serving-as-foreign-minister-for/) [Fumio Kishida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fumio-kishida/) > [The only thing I know about Slovakia is what I learned first-hand from your foreign minister, who came to Texas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-only-thing-i-know-about-slovakia-is-what-i-learned-first-hand/) [George W. 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Every mom dreamed of her son coming home with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/chi-os-were-ideal-partners-for-all-occasions-they-were-discrete/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) ## 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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