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Quote by Lord Chesterfield

“Should you be unfortunate enough to have vices, you may, to a certain degree, even dignify them by a strict observance of decorum;at least they will lose something of their natural turpitude.”

Quote by Lord Chesterfield

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Work

Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Lord Chesterfield's Letters is a compilation of the correspondence between the 4th Earl of Chesterfield and his son. These letters provide a unique glimpse into the social and political landscape of 18th-century England, as well as the personal wisdom and advice that Lord Chesterfield imparted to his son. more

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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“It is reported here that the King of Prussia has gone mad and has been locked up. There would be nothing bad about that: at leastthat might of his would no longer be a menace, and you could breathe freely for a while. I much prefer madmen who are locked up to those who are not.”

Has Beens Might Would Be Gone Kings Madness Mad Breathe Locked Madmen Menace Locked Up Prussia

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“I have, by long experience, found women to be like Telephus's spear: if one end kills, the other cures.”

Ifs Long Ends Found Women Cures Sexism Spears

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

“There is a sort of veteran women of condition, who, having lived always in the grand mode, and having possibly had some gallantries, together with the experience of five and twenty or thirty years, form a young fellow better than all the rules that can be given him.”

Years Together Form Young Given Women Five Conditions Twenties Fellows Thirty Veteran Thirty Years Gallantry

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“No woman ever yet either reasoned or acted long together consequentially; but some little thing, some love, some resentment, somepresent momentary interest, some supposed slight, or some humour, always breaks in upon, and oversets their most prudent resolutions and schemes.”

Littles Long Together Women Interest Break Humour Resolution Little Things Sexism Resentment Schemes Prudent Momentary

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

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

“Women are all so far Machiavellians that they are never either good or bad by halves; their passions are too strong, and their reason too weak, to do anything with moderation.”

Reason Passion Strong Women Half Weak Sexism Moderation

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“It seems to me that your doctor [Tronchin] is more of a philosopher than a physician. As for me, I much prefer a doctor who is anoptimist and who gives me remedies that will improve my health. Philosophical consolations are, after all, useless against real ailments. I know only two kinds of sickness--physical and moral: all the others are purely in the imagination.”

Knows Giving Kind Two Real Seems Imagination Moral Doctors Give Me Philosophical Medicine Philosopher Useless Sickness Remedy Physicians Consolation Doctor Who Ailments

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“All I can say, in answer to this kind queries [of friends] is that I have not the distemper called the Plague; but that I have allthe plagues of old age, and of a shattered carcase.”

Kind I Can Age Answers Health Old Age Plague Shattered Queries

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“If originally it was not good for a man to be alone, it is much worse for a sick man to be so; he thinks too much of his distemper, and magnifies it.”

Ifs Thinking Men Too Much Sick Sick Man

Book:Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters

“Vanity, or to call it by a gentler name, the desire of admiration and applause, is, perhaps, the most universal principle of humanactions.... Where that desire is wanting, we are apt to be indifferent, listless, indolent, and inert.... I will own to you, under the secrecy of confession, that my vanity has very often made me take great pains to make many a woman in love with me, if I could, for whose person I would not have given a pinch of snuff.”

Ifs Persons Made Pain Desire Names Given Principles Universal Praise Vanity If I Could Admiration Confession Indifferent Secrecy Applause Snuff

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Never yield to that temptation, which, to most young men, is very strong, of exposing other people's weaknesses and infirmities, for the sake either of diverting the company, or of showing your own superiority. You may get the laugh on your side by it for the present; but you will make enemies by it for ever; and even those who laugh with you then, will, upon reflection, fear, and consequently hate you.”

Source: Lord Chesterfield's Letters