Quotes from Lord Chesterfield

Man is more himself, man is more manlike, when joy is the fundamental thing in him, and grief the superficial.

Every man is to be had one way or another and every woman almost anyway.

A vulgar man is captious and jealous; eager and impetuous about trifles. He suspects himself to be slighted, and thinks everything that is said meant at him.

An able man shows his spirit by gentle words and resolute actions.

When you have found out the prevailing passion of any man, remember never to trust him where that passion is concerned.

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

It is to be presumed, that a man of common sense, who does not desire to please, desires nothing at all; since he must know that he cannot obtain anything without it.

Gold and silver are but merchandise, as well as cloth or linen; and that nation that buys the least, and sells the most, must always have the most money.

Whoever plays deep must necessarily lose his money or his character.

Few fathers care much for their sons, or at least, most of them care more for their money. Of those who really love their sons, few know how to do it.

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

Nature has hardly formed a woman ugly enough to be insensible to flattery upon her person.

Gratitude is a burden upon our imperfect nature.

In nature the most violent passions are silent; in tragedy they must speak and speak with dignity too.

Politicians neither love nor hate. Interest, not sentiment, directs them.

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.

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it.

Deserve a great deal, and you shall have a great deal; deserve little, and you shall have but a little; and be good for nothing atall, and I assure you, you shall have nothing at all.

The permanency of most friendships depends upon the continuity of good fortune.

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

May you live as long as you are fit to live, but no longer, or, may you rather die before you cease to be fit to live than after!

Health ... is the first and greatest of all blessings.

Many new years you may see, but happy ones you cannot see without deserving them. These virtue, honor, and knowledge alone can merit, alone can produce.

Remember that the wit, humour, and jokes of most mixed companies are local. They thrive in that particular soil, but will not often bear transplanting.