Home / Quotes / Quote by Lord Chesterfield

Quote by Lord Chesterfield

“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.”

Quote by Lord Chesterfield

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

Work

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

The book is a compilation of Lord Chesterfield's correspondence with his son, offering insights into his personal and philosophical views. It is preceded by a biography that provides background on the author's life. more

Author

Lord Chesterfield

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

You May Also Like

“Nothing convinces persons of a weak understanding so effectually, as what they do not comprehend.”

Persons Understanding Ignorance Weak Convince Gullibility

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 most ignorant are the boldest conjecturers.”

Ignorance Ignorant

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Smooth your way to the head through the heart. The way of reason is a good one: but it is commonly something longer, and perhapsnot so sure.”

Way Heart Reason Compassion Smooth

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Lady ---- is safely delivered of a son, to the great joy of that noble family. The expression, of a woman's having brought her husband a son, seems to be a proper and cautious one; for it is never said, from whence.”

Said Seems Joy Son Expression Birth Husband Noble Cautious Great Joy

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“I do not think that a Physician should be admitted into the College till he could bring proofs of his having cured, in his own person, at least four incurable distempers.”

Thinking Should Persons Four College Doctors Medicine Proof Physicians

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Keep your hands clean and pure from the infamous vice of corruption, a vice so infamous that it degrades even the other vices thatmay accompany it. Accept no present whatever; let your character in that respect be transparent and without the least speck, for as avarice is the vilest and dirtiest vice in private, corruption is so in public life.”

Character Hands Accepting Pure Clean Greed Vices Corruption Transparent Public Life Avarice Accompany Degrade Specks Infamous

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“Deserve a great deal, and you shall have a great deal; deserve little, and you shall have but a little; and be good for nothing atall, and I assure you, you shall have nothing at all.”

Littles Deals Deserve Rewards Be Good Generosity

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“The only sure way of avoiding these evils [vanity and boasting] is never to speak of yourself at all. But when, historically, youare obliged to mention yourself, take care not to drop one single word that can directly or indirectly be construed as fishing for applause.”

Way Care Evil Speak Take Care Vanity Fishing Avoiding Boast Obliged Egotism Applause Single Word

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“How often should a woman be pregnant? Continually, or hardly ever? Or must there be a certain number of pregnancy anniversaries established by fashion? What do you, at the age of forty-three, have to say on the subject? Is it a fact that the laws of nature, or of the country, or of propriety, have ordained this time of life for sterility?”

Should Country Facts Age Law Certain Three Numbers Subjects Fashion Forty Pregnancy Pregnant Laws Of Nature Propriety

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“It may be objected, that I am now recommending dissimulation to you; I both own and justify it. It has been long said: Qui nescitdissimular nescit regnare: I go still farther, and say, that without some dissimulation, no business can be carried on at all.”

May Long Has Beens Said Stills Lying Deceit Justify Dishonesty

Author:Lord Chesterfield