Lord Chesterfield Quotes

Style is the dress of thoughts.

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

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

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

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.

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

Idleness is the holiday of fools.

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

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.

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

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

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.

If you would convince others seem open to conviction yourself.

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.

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

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

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

Few men are of one plain decided colour most are mixed shaded and blended and vary as much from different situations as changeable silks do from different lights.

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.

Aim at perfection in everything though in most things it is unattainable. However they who aim at it and persevere will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable.

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

Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

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

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.

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

Polished brass will pass upon more people than rough gold.

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.

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 whereas those who have a great deal of business must buckle to it and then they always find time enough to do it.

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

You must look into people as well as at them.