Quotes by Lord Chesterfield

“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.”

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

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

“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.”

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

“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 de...”

“Style is the dress of thoughts.”

“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.”

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

“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.”

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

“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.”

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

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

“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 gi...”

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

“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.”

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

“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.”