Speak of the moderns without contempt, and of the ancients without idolatry.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Books, Literature
Wise people may say what they will, but one passion is never cured by another.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Great talents, such as honor, virtue, learning, and parts, are above the generality of the world, who neither possess them themselves, nor judge of them rightly in others; but all people are judges of the lesser talents, such as civility, affability, and an obliging, agreeable address and manner, because they feel the good effects of them, as making society easy and pleasing.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Talent
Prepare yourself for the world, as the athletes used to do for their exercise; oil your mind and your manners, to give them the necessary suppleness and flexibility; strength alone will not do.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Manners
Take care of the minutes,
for the hours will take care of themselves.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Let dull critics feed upon the carcases of plays; give me the taste and the dressing.
—Earl of Chesterfield
The young leading the young, is like the blind leading the blind; they will both fall into the ditch.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Pleasure is a reciprocal; no one feels it who does not at the same time give it. To be pleased, one must please.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Happiness, Service, Helpfulness, Goodwill, Kindness, Giving
Ceremony is necessary as the outwork and defense of manners.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Manners, Defense
I am sure that since I have had the full use of my reason, nobody has heard me laugh.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Laughter
We read every day with astonishment, things which we see everyday without surprise.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Persist and persevere, and you will find most things that are attainable, possible.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Persistence, Perseverance
Learning is acquired by reading books, but the much more necessary learning, the knowledge of the world, is only to be acquired by reading men, and studying all the various facets of them.
—Earl of Chesterfield
Topics: Learning, Knowledge, Learning, Knowledge
I recommend you to take care of the minutes, for the hours will take
care of themselves.
—Earl of Chesterfield