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Lord Chesterfield

Lord Chesterfield Quotes

British Statesman

British statesman known for his epistolary works, which had a profound impact on 18th-century British society.

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Famous Lord Chesterfield Quotes

“It is to be presumed, that a man of common sense, who does not desire to please, desires nothing at all; since he must know that he cannot obtain anything without it.”

Knows Men Doe Desire Common Please Common Sense

Book:The Modern Chesterfield

Source: The Modern Chesterfield

“Without any extraordinary effort of genius, I have discovered that nature was the same three thousand years ago as at present; that men were but men then as well as now; that modes and customs vary often, but that human nature is always the same. And I can no more suppose, that men were better, braver, or wiser, fifteen hundred or three thousand years ago, than I can suppose that the animals or vegetables were better than they are now.”

Men Years Humans Wells I Can Three Animal Effort Human Nature Genius Thousand Hundred Years Ago Extraordinary Customs Vegetables Fifteen Thousand Years Wiser Vary

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“The law before us, my lords, seems to be the effect of that practice of which it is intended likewise to be the cause, and to be dictated by the liquor of which it so effectually promotes the use; for surely it never before was conceived by any man entrusted with the administration of public affairs, to raise taxes by the destruction of the people.”

People Men Use Seems Law Causes Lord Practice Effects Taxes Destruction Raises Affair Administration Alcoholism Liquor Public Affairs

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“All ceremonies are in themselves very silly things; but yet, a man of the world should know them. They are the outworks of Mannersand Decency, which would be too often broken in upon, if it were not for that defence, which keeps the enemy at a proper distance.”

Ifs Knows Men World Should Would Be Enemy Broken Distance Silly Ceremony Decency Defence Silly Things

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“In the course of the world, a man must very often put on an easy, frank countenance, upon very disagreeable occasions; he must seem pleased, when he is very much otherwise; he must be able to accost and receive with smiles, those whom he would much rather meet with swords.”

Men World Seems Able Faces Courses Easy Patience Tolerance Occasions Frank Countenance Disagreeable

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“I love every-day senses, every-day wit and entertainment; a man who is only good on holidays, is good for very little.”

Men Littles Entertainment Wit Senses Holiday

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“Civility, which is a disposition to accommodate and oblige others, is essentially the same in every country; but good breeding, asit is called, which is the manner of exerting that disposition, is different in almost every country, and merely local; and every man of sense imitates and conforms to that local good breeding of the place which he is at.”

Men Different Country He Man Every Man Locals Manners Conform Disposition Courtesy Civility Breeding Accommodate Good Breeding

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Study the heart and the mind of man, and begin with your own. Meditation and reflection must lay the foundation of that knowledge, but experience and practice must, and alone can, complete it.”

Men Mind Heart Practice Study Meditation Reflection Foundation Lays

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

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

“A man of the best parts and greatest learning, if he does not know the world by his own experience and observation, will be very absurd, and consequently very unwelcome in company. He may say very good things; but they will be probably so ill-timed, misplaced, or improperly addressed, that he had much better hold his tongue.”

Ifs Knows Men World May Doe Company Good Things Very Good Ill Tongue Absurd Observation Misplaced Unwelcome

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Men have various subjects in which they may excel, or at least would be thought to excel, and though they love to hear justice done to them where they know they excel, yet they are most and best flattered upon those points where they wish to excel and yet are doubtful whether they do or not.”

Knows Men Love May Done Would Be Wish Justice Subjects Excellence Various Doubtful Flattered

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“An able man shows his spirit by gentle words and resolute actions. He is neither hot nor timid.”

Men Shows Able Action Spirit Hot Gentle Resolute

Book:The Modern Chesterfield

Source: The Modern Chesterfield

“Real merit of any kind cannot long be concealed; it will be discovered, and nothing can depreciate it but a man exhibiting it himself. It may not always be rewarded as it ought; but it will always be known.”

Men Kind May Long Real Known Ought Discovery Merit Concealed Depreciate

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“For my own part, I would rather be in company with a dead man than with an absent one; for if the dead man gives me no pleasure, at least he shows me no contempt; whereas the absent one, silently indeed, but very plainly, tells me that he does not think me worth his attention.”

Ifs Thinking Men Giving Doe Real Shows My Own Pleasure Attention Company Give Me Contempt Show Me Real Friends Absent Dead Man

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“If ever a man and his wife, or a man and his mistress, who pass nights as well as days together, absolutely lay aside all good breeding, their intimacy will soon degenerate into a coarse familiarity, infallibly productive of contempt or disgust.”

Ifs Men Wells Together Night Wife Lays Intimacy Productive Contempt Disgusting Mistress Familiarity Breeding Degenerates Coarse Good Breeding Familiarity Breeds Contempt

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“Patience is the most necessary quality for business, many a man would rather you heard his story than grant his request.”

Men Stories Business Quality Heard Patience Grants Commerce Request

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“A wise man will live as much within his wit as within his income.”

Men Wise Advice Tongue Wit Income

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“Men, as well as women, are much oftener led by their hearts than by their understandings.”

Men Inspirational Wells Heart Understanding

Book:Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son

Source: Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son

“The only solid and lasting peace between a man and his wife is, doubtless, a separation.”

Men Funny Marriage Wife Drinking Divorce Separation Lasting Funny Divorce Marriage Divorce Marriage And Divorce Inspirational Divorce

Book:Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son

Source: Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son

“A man of sense only trifles with them, plays with them, humors and flatters them, as he does with a sprightly and forward child; but he neither consults them about, nor trusts them with, serious matters.”

Men Children Doe Matter Play Serious Trifles

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“Young men are apt to think themselves wise enough, as drunken men are apt to think themselves sober enough.”

Thinking Men Enough Young Time Wise Youth Ignorance Young Man Sober

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

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

“Learning is acquired by reading books; much more necessary learning, the knowledge of the world, is only to be acquired by reading men, and studying all the various editions of them.”

Men World Book Reading Knowledge Learning Study Various Reading Books Facets Knowledge Of The World

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“I look upon indolence as a sort of suicide; for the man is effectually destroyed, though the appetites of the brute may survive.”

Men Looks May Suicide Destroyed Appetite Brutes Indolence

Book:The Modern Chesterfield

Source: The Modern Chesterfield

“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.”

Knows Men Values Differences Laughing Dresses Neglect

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

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

“Custom has made dancing sometimes necessary for a young man; therefore mind it while you learn it, that you may learn to do it well, and not be ridiculous, though in a ridiculous act.”

Men Mind Wells May Made Sometimes Young Dancing Ridiculous Young Man Customs Ballet

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

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

“I am very sure that any man of common understanding may, by culture, care, attention, and labor, make himself what- ever he pleases, except a great poet.”

Men May Care Culture Understanding Common Attention Poet Please Labor Great Poet

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Wit is so shining a quality that everybody admires it; most people aim at it, all people fear it, and few love it unless in themselves. A man must have a good share of wit himself to endure a great share of it in another.”

People Men Quality Share Aim Shining Endure Wit Admire

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“You must look into people, as well as at them.”

People Men Wells Looks Relationship Advice Diversity Character Education

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“So much are our minds influenced by the accidents of our bodies, that every man is more the man of the day than a regular and consequential character.”

Men Mind Character Body He Man Personality Accidents Every Man

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

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

“Every man is to be had one way or another and every woman almost anyway.”

Men Way Dating Every Man One Way

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

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

“A man's own good breeding is the best security against other people's ill manners.”

People Men Inspirational Security Ill Manners Courtesy Breeding Good Manners Courteous Dealing With People Good Breeding Courtesy Manners

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“An ignorant man is insignificant and contemptible; nobody cares for his company, and he can just be said to live, and that is all.”

Men Said Care Company Stupidity Ignorant Insignificant Nobody Cares

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

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

“A man must have a good share of wit himself to endure a great share in another.”

Men Share Endure Wit

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“I am convinced that a light supper, a good night's sleep, and a fine morning, have sometimes made a hero of the same man, who, by an indigestion, a restless night, and rainy morning, would have proved a coward.”

Men Life Made Sometimes Light Success Night Sleep Morning Fine Hero Rain Convinced Coward Restless Rainy Good Night Supper Indigestion Restless Nights

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“Every man becomes, to a certain degree, what the people he generally converses with are.”

People Men Certain Degrees Every Man Converses

Book:Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son

Source: Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son

“Men will not believe because they will not broaden their minds.”

Men Mind Believe Belief

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Next to doing things that deserve to be written, nothing gets a man more credit, or gives him more pleasure than to write things that deserve to be read.”

Men Giving Writing Next Pleasure Written Deserve Credit

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 weakest sometimes wisely.”

Men Made Sometimes Character Mankind Presidential Wisest Inconsistency Wisest Man

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“Silence and reserve suggest latent power. What some men think has more effect than what others say.”

Thinking Men Silence Effects Reserves Latent

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“A man who tells nothing, or who tells all, will equally have nothing told him.”

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“A man who cannot command his temper, his attention, and his countenance should not think of being a man of business.”

Thinking Men Should Command Temper

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“To me it appears strange that the men against whom I should be enabled to bring an action for laying a little dirt at my door, may with impunity drive by it half-a-dozen calves, with their tails lopped close to their bodies and their hinder parts covered with blood.”

Men Should May Littles Body Action Half Doors Blood Strange He Man Covered Dozen Dirt Tails Farming Hinder Impunity Calves

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“No man tastes pleasures truly, who does not earn them by previous business; and few people do business well, who do nothing else.”

People Men Wells Doe Pleasure Business Taste

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

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

“Wrongs are often forgiven, but contempt never is. Our pride remembers it forever. It implies a discovery of weakness, which we are more careful to conceal than a crime. Many a man will confess his crimes to a friend; but I never knew a man that would tell his silly weaknesses to his most intimate one.”

Men Remember Forever Crime Pride Forgiveness Weakness Discovery Careful Silly Intimate Contempt Forgiven

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Horse-play, romping, frequent and loud fits of laughter, jokes, and indiscriminate familiarity, will sink both merit and knowledge into a degree of contempt. They compose at most a merry fellow; and a merry fellow was never yet a respectable man.”

Men Play Fun Pleasure Fit Degrees Laughter Jokes Horse Fellows Loud Merit Contempt Familiarity Respectable Merry Respectable Man

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“It is commonly said that ridicule is the best test of truth; for that it will not stick where it is not just. I deny it. A truth learned in a certain light, and attacked in certain words, by men of wit and humor, may, and often doth, become ridiculous, at least so far, that the truth is only remembered and repeated for the sake of the ridicule.”

Men May Said Light Certain Truth Is Tests Sticks Sake Deny Wit Ridiculous Remembered Ridicule Wit And Humor

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

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

“The world can doubtless never be well known by theory: practice is absolutely necessary; but surely it is of great use to a young man, before he sets out for that country, full of mazes, windings, and turnings, to have at least a general map of it, made by some experienced traveler.”

Men World Wells Made Country Use Young Known Practice Theory Young Man Maps Traveler Well Known Mazes

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“When you have found out the prevailing passion of any man, remember never to trust him where that passion is concerned.”

Men Remember Passion Found Concerned Prevailing

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“Few men are of one plain, decided color; most are mixed, shaded, and blended; and vary as much, from different situations, as changeable silks do from different lights.”

Men Life Different Light Success Situation Color Personality Decided Vary Silk

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“Men are much more unwilling to have their weaknesses and their imperfections known than their crimes.”

Men Known Crime Weakness Reputation Imperfection Unwilling

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“There are some occasions in which a man must tell half his secret, in order to conceal the rest: but there is seldom one in which a man should tell it all.”

Men Order Secret Half Occasions

Author:Lord Chesterfield

About the Author

Born: September 22, 1694
Died: March 24, 1773
Known for: British Statesman
Quotes: 437

Related Topics

Men People Ifs May Wells Should Company Thinking Giving Manners World Knows Mind Pleasure Character Littles Care Young Long Age

Popular Topics

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Books & Sources

Lord Chesterfield's LettersRelated source material

The Works of Lord Chesterfield: Including His Letters to His Son, Etc : to which is Prefixed, an Original Life of the AuthorRelated source material

Letters Written by the Earl of Chesterfield to His SonRelated source material

The Modern ChesterfieldRelated source material

LETTERS TO HIS SONRelated source material

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