Quotes by Lord 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."

"If you would convince others, seem open to conviction yourself."

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

"Men, as well as women, are much oftener led by their hearts than by their understandings."

"Knowledge may give weight, but accomplishments give luster, and many more people see than weigh."

"In seeking wisdom thou art wise in imagining that thou hast attained it - thou art a fool."

"Remember, as long as you live, that nothing but strict truth can carry you through the world, with either your conscience or your honor unwounded."

"The world is a country which nobody ever yet knew by description one must travel through it one's self to be acquainted with it."

"Knowledge of the world in only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet."

"Learning is acquired by reading books, but the much more necessary learning, the knowledge of the world, is only to be acquired by reading men, and studying all the various facets of them."

"In my mind there is nothing so illiberal, and so ill-bred, as audible laughter.… I am neither of a melancholy, nor a cynical disposition, and am as willing and as apt to be pleased as anybody; but I am sure that since I have had the full use of my reason, nobody has ever heard me laugh."

"A weak mind is like a microscope, which magnifies trifling things, but cannot receive great ones."

"I find, by experience, that the mind and the body are more than married, for they are most intimately united and when one suffers, the other sympathizes."

"Wit is so shining a quality that everybody admires it most people aim at it, all people fear it, and few love it unless in themselves. A man must have a good share of wit himself to endure a great share of it in another."

"If you can once engage people's pride, love, pity, ambition on your side, you need not fear what their reason can do against you."

"The heart never grows better by age I fear rather worse, always harder. A young liar will be an old one, and a young knave will only be a greater knave as he grows older."

"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.”"

"Good manners are the settled medium of social, as specie is of commercial, life; returns are equally expected for both."

"An injury is much sooner forgotten than an insult."

"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."

"Never seem wiser, nor more learned, than the people you are with. Wear your learning, like your watch, in a private pocket: and do not merely pull it out and strike it merely to show that you have one."

"Take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves."

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

"No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination; never put off till tomorrow what you can do today."

"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."

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

"Whoever is in a hurry shows that the thing he is about is too big for him."

"In matters of religion and matrimony I never give any advice because I will not have anybody's torments in this world or the next laid to my charge."

"Good humor is the health of the soul, sadness is its poison."

"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."

"Swift speedy time, feathered with flying hours, Dissolves the beauty of the fairest brow."

"Regularity in the hours of rising and retiring, perseverance in exercise, adaptation of dress to the variations of climate, simple and nutritious aliment, and temperance in all things are necessary branches of the regimen of health."

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

"The only solid and lasting peace between a man and his wife is, doubtless, a separation."

"To have frequent recourse to narrative betrays great want of imagination."

"Good breeding is the result of good sense, some good nature, and a little self-denial for the sake of others."