Lord Chesterfield Quotes

Distrust all those who love you extremely upon a very slight acquaintance and without any viable reason.

Pocket all your knowledge with your watch and never pull it out in company unless desired.

Idleness is the holiday of fools.

There is time enough for everything in the course of the day if you do but one thing once but there is not time enough in the year if you will do two things at a time.

Firmness of purpose is one of the most necessary sinews of character and one of the best instruments of success. Without it genius wastes its efforts in a maze of inconsistencies.

Patience is a most necessary quality for business many a man would rather you heard his story than grant his request.

Manners must adorn knowledge and smooth its way through the world.

Advice is seldom welcome and those who want it the most always like it the least.

Without some dissimulation no business can be carried on at all.

When one is learning one should not think of play and when one is at play one should not think of learning.

There is time enough for everything in the course of the day if you do but one thing at once but there is not time enough in the year if you will do two things at a time.

Style is the dress of thoughts.

Know the true value of time snatch seize and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness no laziness no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

We are in truth more than a half of what we are by imitation.

You must look into people as well as at them.

If you would convince others seem open to conviction yourself.

When a man is once in fashion all he does is right.

Firmness of purpose is one of the most necessary sinews of character and one of the best instruments of success. Without it genius wastes its efforts in a maze of inconsistencies.

Polished brass will pass upon more people than rough gold.

Men are much more unwilling to have their weaknesses and their imperfections known than their crimes.

Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.

Never hold any one by the button or the hand in order to be heard out for if people are unwilling to hear you you had better hold your tongue than them.

Wear your learning like your watch in a private pocket and do not pull it out and strike it merely to show that you have one.

I recommend you to take care of the minutes for the hours will take care of themselves.

Pleasure is a reciprocal no one feels it who does not at the same time give it. To be pleased one must please.

The manner of your speaking is full as important as the matter as more people have ears to be tickled than understandings to judge.

Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.