520 Quotes by Lord Chesterfield

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

Learn to shrink yourself to the size of the company you are in. Take their tone, whatever it may be, and excell in it if you can;but never pretend to give the tone. A free conversation will no more bear a dictator than a free government will.

Women have, in general, but ne object, which is their beauty; upon which, scarce any flattery is too gross for them to swallow.

The heart has such an influence over the understanding, that it is worth while to engage it in our interest.

Great merit or great failings will make you respected or despised; but trifles, little attentions, mere nothings, either done or neglected, will make you either liked or disliked, in the general run of the world. Examine yourself, why you like such and such people and dislike such and such others; and you will find that those different sentiments proceed from very slight causes.

Speak of the moderns without contempt, and of the ancients without idolatry.

An injury is much sooner forgiven than an insult

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.

Ugliness is a letter of credit for some special purposes.