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Quote by Lord Chesterfield

“Ceremonies are the outworks of manners.”

Quote by Lord Chesterfield

Author

Lord Chesterfield

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

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“A cheerful, easy, open countenance will make fools think you a good-natured man, and make designing men think you an undesigning one.”

Thinking Men Easy Design Fool Cheerful Cheerfulness Countenance

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“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.”

Ifs Thinking Men Shows Proud Goodness Claims Mere Shocking Civility Pretense Rudeness Condescension Insolent Proud 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

“Take rather than give the tone to the company you are in. If you have parts you will show them more or less upon every subject; and if you have not, you had better talk sillily upon a subject of other people's than of your own choosing.”

People Ifs Giving Shows Company Subjects Tone

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“It is often more necessary to conceal contempt than resentment; the former is never forgiven, but the later is sometimes forgotten.”

Sometimes Forgotten Former Contempt Resentment Forgiven Never Forgive

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Men are much more unwilling to have their weaknesses and their imperfections known, than their crimes; and, if you hint to a man that you think him silly, ignorant, or even ill-bred or awkward, he will hate you more, and longer, than if you tell him plainly that you think him a rogue.”

Ifs Thinking Men Hate Known Crime Weakness Ill Silly Ignorant Imperfection Contempt Awkward Hate You Hints Rogues

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“A vulgar man is captious and jealous; eager and impetuous about trifles. He suspects himself to be slighted, and thinks everything that is said meant at him.”

Thinking Men Said Suspects Jealous Vulgar Trifles Slighted Impetuous

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“A man who owes a little can clear it off in a very little time, and, if he is a prudent man, will; whereas a man, who by long negligence, owes a great deal, despairs of ever being able to pay, and therefore never looks into his accounts at all.”

Ifs Men Looks Littles Long Able Deals Pay Clear Despair Accounts Debt Prudent Little Time Negligence

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

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

“We are as often duped by diffidence as by confidence.”

Confidence Diffidence

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

“Six, or at most seven, hours' sleep is, for a constancy, as much as you or anybody else can want; more is only laziness and dozing, and is, I am persuaded, both unwholesome and stupefying.”

Want Hours Sleep Six Seven Laziness Constancy Dozing

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Elegance of manner is the outgrowth of refined and exalted sense.”

Elegance Refined Exalted

Author:Lord Chesterfield