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Lord Chesterfield Quotes

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Famous Lord Chesterfield Quotes

“Of those who really love their sons, few know how to do it. Some spoil them when they are young, and then quarrel with them when they are grown up, for having been spoiled; some love them like mothers, and attend only to the bodily health and strength of the hopes of their family, solemnize his birthday, and rejoice, like the subjects of the Great Mogul, at the increase of his bulk: while others, minding, as they think, only essentials, take pains and pleasure to see in their heir, all their favourite weaknesses and imperfections.”

ThinkingKnowsLovePainYoungMotherPleasureFamilyKnow HowGrowing UpSubjectsSonEssentialsWeaknessIncreaseImperfectionRejoiceFavouriteQuarrelsSpoilSpoiledFamily LoveHeirsPain And PleasureMogulsLike A MotherHealth And Strength
Book:The Works of Lord Chesterfield: Including His Letters to His Son, Etc : to which is Prefixed, an Original Life of the Author
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“I am not of the opinion generally entertained in this country [England], that man lives by Greek and Latin alone; that is, by knowing a great many words of two dead languages, which nobody living knows perfectly, and which are of no use in the common intercourse of life. Useful knowledge, in my opinion, consists of modern languages, history, and geography; some Latin may be thrown into the bargain, in compliance with custom, and for closet amusement.”

KnowsMenMayTwoCountryUseLanguageCommonEducationOpinionKnowledgeKnowingLearningModernEnglandGreekGreat MenThrownLive ByCustomsLatinClosetsAmusementGeographyIntercourseBargainsComplianceUseful KnowledgeModern Languages
Author:Lord Chesterfield
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“It seems to me that your doctor [Tronchin] is more of a philosopher than a physician. As for me, I much prefer a doctor who is anoptimist and who gives me remedies that will improve my health. Philosophical consolations are, after all, useless against real ailments. I know only two kinds of sickness--physical and moral: all the others are purely in the imagination.”

KnowsGivingKindTwoRealSeemsImaginationMoralDoctorsGive MePhilosophicalMedicinePhilosopherUselessSicknessRemedyPhysiciansConsolationDoctor WhoAilments
Author:Lord Chesterfield
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“A learned parson, rusting in his cell at Oxford or Cambridge, will reason admirably well upon the nature of man; will profoundly analyze the head, the heart, the reason, the will, the passions, the senses, the sentiments, and all those subdivisions of we know not what ; and yet, unfortunately, he knows nothing of man... He views man as he does colours in Sir Isaac Newton's prism, where only the capital ones are seen; but an experienced dyer knows all their various shades and gradations, together with the result of their several mixtures.”

KnowsMenWellsHeartDoeReasonTogetherPassionResultsViewsLearningIgnoranceExperienceVariousCellsColourSentimentsShadeMixturesNewtonOxfordNature Of ManIsaacCambridgePrisms
Author:Lord Chesterfield
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“There is nothing so necessary, but at the same time there is nothing more difficult (I know it by experience) for you young fellows, than to know how to behave yourselves prudently towards those whom you do not like. Your passions are warm, and your heads are light; you hate all those who oppose your views, either of ambition or love; and a rival, in either, is almost a synonymous term for any enemy.”

KnowsLightYoungHatePassionDifficultTermViewsEnemyKnow HowLike YouBehaviorAmbitionFellowsWarmBehaveRivalsRivalry
Author:Lord Chesterfield
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“One of the greatest difficulties in civil war is, that more art is required to know what should be concealed from our friends, than what ought to be done against our enemies.”

KnowsShouldArtWarDoneEnemyFriendsOughtArt IsDifficultyCivil WarConcealed
Book:The Works of Lord Chesterfield: Including His Letters to His Son, Etc : to which is Prefixed, an Original Life of the Author
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“Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it.”

KnowsInspirationalMomentsTimeValuesEnjoyPositiveTime ManagementLazinessProcrastinationLive In The MomentIdlenessMaking TimePunctualityPunctualTrue ValueStop ProcrastinationLive In The NowBetter TomorrowPostponingValue Of TimeLive Every MomentTomorrow Will Be BetterEnjoying The MomentPromptness
Book:Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son
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“Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”

KnowsLifeMomentsMotivationalTodayTimeValuesEnjoyCan DoPositiveTomorrowTime ManagementLazinessProcrastinationLive In The MomentIdlenessMaking TimePunctualityPunctualTrue ValueStop ProcrastinationLive In The NowPostponingValue Of TimeEnjoy TodayLive Every MomentEnjoying The MomentPromptness
Author:Lord Chesterfield
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“The difference between a man of sense and a fop is that the fop values himself upon his dress; and the man of sense laughs at it, at the same time he knows he must not neglect it.”

KnowsMenValuesDifferencesLaughingDressesNeglect
Book:The Works of Lord Chesterfield: Including His Letters to His Son, Etc : to which is Prefixed, an Original Life of the Author
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“I really know nothing more criminal, more mean, and more ridiculous than lying. It is the production either of malice, cowardice, or vanity; and generally misses of its aim in every one of these views; for lies are always detected, sooner or later.”

KnowsMeanLyingViewsMissingAimProductionsCriminalsRidiculousVanityCowardiceSooner Or LaterMalice
Book:The Works of Lord Chesterfield: Including His Letters to His Son, Etc : to which is Prefixed, an Original Life of the Author
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