Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield quotes - page 2

Dispatch is the soul of business.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

It is an undoubted truth, that the less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in. One yawns, one procrastinates, one can do it when one will, and therefore one seldom does it at all.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

I knew once a very covetous, sordid fellow, who used to say, "Take care of the pence, for the pounds will take care of themselves."

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

The nation looked upon him as a deserter, and he shrunk into insignificancy and an earldom.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

In short, let it be your maxim through life, to know all you can know, yourself; and never to trust implicitly to the informations of others.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

I really know nothing more criminal, more mean, and more ridiculous than lying. It is the production either of malice, cowardice, or vanity; and generally misses of its aim in every one of these views; for lies are always detected, sooner or later.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Courts and camps are the only places to learn the world in.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Manners must adorn knowledge, and smooth its way through the world. Like a great rough diamond, it may do very well in a closet by way of curiosity, and also for its intrinsic value.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Little minds mistake little objects for great ones, and lavish away upon the former that time and attention which only the latter deserve. To such mistakes we owe the numerous and frivolous tribe of insect-mongers, shell-mongers, and pursuers and driers of butterflies, etc. The strong mind distinguishes, not only between the useful and the useless, but likewise between the useful and the curious.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

I wish to God that you had as much pleasure in following my advice, as I have in giving it to you.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

A proper secrecy is the only mystery of able men; mystery is the only secrecy of weak and cunning ones.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Let this be one invariable rule of your conduct-never to show the least symptom of resentment, which you cannot, to a certain degree, gratify; but always to smile, where you cannot strike.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Gratitude is a burden upon our imperfect nature.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

I assisted at the birth of that most significant word "flirtation," which dropped from the most beautiful mouth in the world.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Our conjectures pass upon us for truths; we will know what we do not know, and often, what we cannot know: so mortifying to our pride is the base suspicion of ignorance.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

He adorned whatever subject he either spoke or wrote upon, by the most splendid eloquence.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

People will no more advance their civility to a bear, than their money to a bankrupt.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Unlike my subject will I frame my song, It shall be witty, and it shan't be long.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Sex: the pleasure is momentary, the position ridiculous, and the expense damnable.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Cheerful with wisdom, with innocence gay, And calm with your joys gently glide thro' the day. The dews of the evening most carefully shun - Those tears of the sky for the loss of the sun.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

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.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Patience, to hear frivolous, impertinent, and unreasonable applications: with address enough to refuse, without offending; or, by your manner of granting, to double the obligation: dexterity enough to conceal a truth, without telling a lie: sagacity enough to read other people's countenances: and serenity enough not to let them discover anything by yours; a seeming frankness, with a real reserve. These are the rudiments of a politician; the world must be your grammar.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield