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Quote by Lord Chesterfield

“There is not a more prudent maxim, than to live with one's enemies as if they may one day become one's friends; as it commonly happens, sooner or later, in the vicissitudes of political affairs.”

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Lord Chesterfield

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

“If a marriage is going to work well, it must be on a solid footing, namely money, and of that commodity it is the girl with the smallest dowry who, to my knowledge, consumes the most, to infuriate her husband. All the same, it is only fair that the marriage should pay for past pleasures, since it will scarcely procure any in the future.”

Ifs Should Wells Past Girl Pleasure Money Pay Marriage Husband Fairs Smallest Commodity Going To Work Dowry

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“Gold and silver are but merchandise, as well as cloth or linen; and that nation that buys the least, and sells the most, must always have the most money.”

Wells Nations Money Gold Trade Sells Silver Merchandise Gold And Silver Linen

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

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

“The talent of insinuation is more useful than that of persuasion, as everybody is open to insinuation, but scarce any to persuasion.”

Talent Propaganda Gossip Persuasion Scarce

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 vulgar look upon a man, who is reckoned a fine speaker, as a phenomenon, a supernatural being, and endowed with some peculiargift of Heaven; they stare at him, if he walks in the park, and cry, that is he. You will, I am sure, view him in a juster light, and nulla formidine. You will consider him only as a man of good sense, who adorns common thoughts with the graces of elocution, and the elegancy of style. The miracle will then cease.”

“Anne of Austria (with great submission to a Crowned Head do I say it) was a B----. She had spirit and courage without parts, devotion without common morality, and lewdness without tenderness either to justify or to dignify it. Her two sons were no more Lewis the Thirteen's than they were mine.”

Two Character Spirit Common Mines Son Morality Devotion Justify Tenderness Submission Royalty Adultery Thirteen Austria

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

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

“Cardinal Mazarin was a great knave, but no great man; much more cunning than able; scandalously false and dirtily greedy.”

Men Character Able Greed Great Men Greedy Cunning Cardinals Knaves

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

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

“You must be respectful and assenting, but without being servile and abject. You must be frank, but without indiscretion, and close, without being costive. You must keep up dignity of character, without the least pride of birth, or rank. You must be gay, within all the bounds of decency and respect; and grave, without the affectation of wisdom, which does not become the age of twenty. You must be essentially secret, without being dark and mysterious. You must be firm, and even bold, but with great seeming modesty.”

Doe Character Age Dark Secret Pride Birth Gay Dignity Twenties Bounds Graves Mysterious Manners Firm Frank Modesty Decency Respectful Seeming Be Respectful

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“The company of women of fashion will improve your manners, though not your understanding; and that complaisance and politeness, which are so useful in men's company, can only be acquired in women's.”

Men Understanding Company Fashion Men And Women Manners Politeness

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

Quote by Lord Chesterfield

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