Lord Chesterfield
Lord Chesterfield
Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield KG PCwas a British statesman, and a man of letters, and wit. He was born in London to Philip Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Chesterfield, and Lady Elizabeth Savile, and known as Lord Stanhope until the death of his father, in 1726. Educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, he subsequently embarked on the Grand Tour of the Continent, to complete his education as a nobleman, by exposure to the cultural legacies of Classical antiquity and...
heart compassion way
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.
ignorance ignorant
The most ignorant are the boldest conjecturers.
passion men order
In order to judge of the inside of others, study your own; for men in general are very much alike, and though one has one prevailing passion, and another has another, yet their operations are much the same; and whatever engages or disgusts, pleases, or offends you in others will engage, disgust, please or offend others in you.
language speak company
Speak the language of the company you are in; speak it purely, and unlarded with any other.
life-lesson lessons reticence
A judicious reticence is hard to learn, but it is one of the great lessons of life.
hurt humor shining
If you have wit, use it to please and not to hurt: you may shine like the sun in the temperate zones without scorching.
half care example
We are in truth, more than half what we are by imitation. The great point is to choose good models and to study them with care.
beautiful women understanding
Women who are either indisputably beautiful, or indisputably ugly, are best flattered upon the score of their understandings.
fashion laughter silly
Loud laughter is the mirth of the mob, who are only pleased with silly things; for true Wit or good Sense never excited a laugh since the creation of the world. A man of parts and fashion is therefore often seen to smile, but never heard to laugh.
passion men vanity
Women are much more like each other than men: they have, in truth, but two passions, vanity and love; these are their universal characteristics.
art long desire
Most arts require long study and application; but the most useful of all, that of pleasing, only the desire.
wise philosophy care
Not to care for philosophy is to be a true philospher.
character nations
The nation looked upon him as a deserter, and he shrunk into insignificancy and an earldom.
men advice praise
Whenever a man seeks your advice he generally seeks your praise.