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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

“When I reflect upon what I have seen, what I have heard, what I have done, I can hardly persuade myself that all that frivolous hurry and bustle and pleasure of the world had any reality; and I look on what has passed as one of those wild dreams which opium occasions, and I by no means wish to repeat the nauseous dose for the sake of the fugitive illusion.”

World Life Looks Mean I Can Done Dream Reality Wish Pleasure Heard Illusion Sake Occasions Repeats Dose Frivolous Opium Fugitive Bustle Wild Dreams

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Great merit or great failings will make you respected or despised; but trifles, little attentions, mere nothings, either done or neglected, will make you either liked or disliked, in the general run of the world. Examine yourself, why you like such and such people and dislike such and such others; and you will find that those different sentiments proceed from very slight causes.”

People World Littles Different Done Running Causes Attention Failing Mere Merit Sentiments Dislike Neglected Trifles Despised

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Though we cannot totally change our nature, we may in great measure correct it by reflection and philosophy; and some philosophy is a very necessary companion in this world, where, even to the most fortunate, the chances are greatly against happiness.”

Thinking World May Philosophy Chance Human Nature This World Reflection Fortunate Thoughtful Companion Chances Are

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“Second-rate knowledge, and middling talents, carry a man farther at courts, and in the busy part of the world, than superior knowledge and shining parts.”

Men World Knowledge Talent Court Shining Rate Busy Superiors Second Rate

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

“Let us not only scatter benefits, but even strew flowers for our fellow-travellers, in the rugged ways of this wretched world.”

World Way Flower Benefits Fellows Charity Generosity Wretched Traveller Rugged

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

“A certain degree of ceremony is a necessary outwork of manners, as well as of religion; it keeps the forward and petulant at a proper distance, and is a very small restraint to the sensible and to the well-bred part of the world.”

World Wells Certain Degrees Distance Manners Sensible Restraint Ceremony

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Endeavor, as much as you can, to keep company with people above you.... Do not mistake, when I say company above you, and think that I mean with regard to their birth; that is the least consideration; but I mean with regard to their merit, and the light in which the world considers them.”

People Thinking World Mean Light Mistake Company Birth Regard Merit Consideration Endeavor

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“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

“The late Président de Montesquieu told me that he knew how to be blind--he had been so for such a long time--but I swear that I do not know how to be deaf: I cannot get used to it, and I am as humiliated and distressed by it today as I was during the first week. No philosophy in the world can palliate deafness.”

Knows World Firsts Long Philosophy Today Used Know How Week Late Long Time Blind Swear Blindness Deaf Humiliated Deafness Montesquieu

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“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

“I assisted at the birth of that most significant word "flirtation," which dropped from the most beautiful mouth in the world.”

World Beautiful Birth Mouths Significant Flirtation

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Great merit, or great failings, will make you respected or despised; but trifles, little attentions, mere nothings, either done or neglected, will make you either liked or disliked in the general run of the world.”

World Littles Done Running Attention Failing Mere Merit Neglected Trifles Despised

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“Prepare yourself for the world, as athletes used to do for their exercises; oil your mind and your manners, to give them the necessary suppleness and flexibility; strength alone will not do.”

World Giving Mind Used Strong Strength Exercise Athlete Oil Manners Preparation Flexibility Being Strong

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

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

“The world is a country which nobody ever yet knew by description; one must travel through it one's self to be acquainted with it.”

World Self Country Nature Journey Travel Description Funny Travel Acquaintance

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

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

“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

“Remember, as long as you live, that nothing but strict truth can carry you through the world, with either your conscience or your honor unwounded.”

World Long Remember Honor Conscience Strict Your Honor

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

“In matters of religion and matrimony I never give any advice; because I will not have anybody's torments in this world or the next laid to my charge.”

World Giving Matter Funny Next Advice This World Humorous Torment Matrimony

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Knowledge of the world in only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet.”

World Education Knowledge Closets Chances Are Great Risk Knowledge Of The World Acquiring Knowledge

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Manners must adorn knowledge and smooth its way through the world.”

World Way Manners Smooth Jewels Courtesy Jewelry Intrinsic Value Diamond In The Rough

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“Manners must adorn knowledge and smooth its way in the world, without them it is like a great rough diamond, very well in a closet by way of curiosity, and also for its intrinsic value; but most prized when polished.”

World Way Wells Values Knowledge Curiosity Manners Rough Diamond Smooth Closets Jewels Jewelry Polished Intrinsic Value Diamond In The Rough

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“There never were, since the creation of the world, two cases exactly parallel.”

World Two Earth Cases Creation Parallels Creation Of The World

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“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

“Loud laughter is the mirth of the mob, who are only pleased with silly things; for true Wit or good Sense never excited a laugh since the creation of the world. A man of parts and fashion is therefore often seen to smile, but never heard to laugh.”

Men World Laughing Heard Fashion Creation Laughter Excited Wit Silly Loud Good Sense Mirth Silly Things Creation Of The World Loud Laughter

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

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

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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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