Quotessence
Home / Authors / Lord Chesterfield
Lord Chesterfield

Lord Chesterfield Quotes

British Statesman

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenPeopleIfsMayWellsShouldCompanyThinkingGivingMannersWorldKnowsMindPleasureCharacterLittlesCareYoungLongAge

Famous Lord Chesterfield Quotes

“One man affirms that he has rode post a hundred miles in six hours; probably it is a lie; but supposing it to be true, what then? Why, he is a very good post-boy; that is all. Another asserts, and probably not without oaths, that he has drunk six or eight bottles of wine at a sitting; out of charity I will believe him a liar; for if I do not, I must think him a beast.”

IfsThinkingMenBelieveLyingHoursBoysSixHundredSittingWineCharityVery GoodEightMilesBeing TrueDrunkPostsBeastLiarsOne ManBottlesBoastOathSupposingBottles Of Wine
Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters
Create image

“The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be; because he shows you, by his manner, that he thinks it mere condescension in him; and that his goodness alone bestows upon you what you have no pretense to claim.”

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

“Young men are as apt to think themselves wise enough, as drunken men are to think themselves sober enough. They look upon spirit to be a much better thing than experience; which they call coldness. They are but half mistaken; for though spirit without experience is dangerous, experience without spirit is languid and ineffective.”

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

“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
Create image

“I am provoked at the contempt which most historians show for humanity in general; one would think by them, that the whole human species consisted but of about a hundred and fifty people, called and dignified (commonly very undeservedly too) by the titles of Emperors, Kings, Popes, Generals, and Ministers.”

PeopleThinkingHumansWholeShowsHumanityHistoryKingsHundredSpeciesTitlesMinistersFiftyHistorianContemptPopeEmperorHuman SpeciesProvoked
Author:Lord Chesterfield
Create image

“Armies, though always the supporters and tools of absolute power for the time being, are always the destroyers of it too; by frequently changing the hands in which they think proper to lodge it.”

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

“Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions.... Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself what such and such an amusement leads to, as it is essential to have an objective in everything you do. Any pastime that contributes nothing to bodily strength or to mental alertness is a totally ridiculous, not to say, idiotic, pleasure.”

ThinkingActionMotivationAsksPleasureHabitEssentialsConsequenceRidiculousObjectivesAmusementPastimeIdioticAlertnessThinking AheadAlertness Is
Author:Lord Chesterfield
Create image

“The herd of mankind can hardly be said to think; their notions are almost all adoptive; and, in general, I believe it is better that it should be so; as such common prejudices contribute more to order and quiet, than their own separate reasonings would do, uncultivated and unimproved as they are.”

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