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...
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Let your enemies be disarmed by the gentleness of your manner, but at the same time let them feel, the steadiness of your resentment.
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It is often more necessary to conceal contempt than resentment; the former is never forgiven, but the later is sometimes forgotten.
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Words are the dress of thoughts; which should no more be presented in rags, tatters, and dirt than your person should
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There is a sort of veteran woman of condition, who, having lived always in the grand monde, 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. Wherever you go, make some of those women your friends; which a very little matter will do. Ask their advice, tell them your doubts or difficulties as to your behavior; but take great care not to drop one word of their experience; for experience implies age, and the suspicion of age, no woman, let her be ever so old, ever forgives.
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Little, vicious minds abound with anger and revenge, and are incapable of feeling the pleasure of forgiving their enemies.
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Swallow all your learning in the morning, but digest it in company in the evenings
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Whoever is admitted or sought for, in company, upon any other account than that of his merit and manners, is never respected there, but only made use of. We will have such-a-one, for he sings prettily; we will invite such-a-one to a ball, for he dances well; we will have such-a-one at supper, for he is always joking and laughing; we will ask another because he plays deep at all games, or because he can drink a great deal. These are all vilifying distinctions, mortifying preferences, and exclude all ideas of esteem and regard. Whoever is had (as it is called) in company for the sake of any one thing singly, is singly that thing, and will never be considered in any other light; consequently never respected, let his merits be what they will.
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In those days he was wiser than he is now - he used frequently to take my advice.
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When a man wants your advice he generally wants your praise
half imitation
We are, in truth, more than half of what we are by imitation
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A constant smirk upon the face, and a whiffing activity of the body, are strong indications of futility.
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Never seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked.
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Take care in your minutes, and the hours will take care of themselves.
company tone
Take the tone of the company that you are in