Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield Quotes
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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.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
Experience only can teach men not to prefer what strikes them for the present moment, to what will have much greater weight with the them hereafter.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
The permanency of most friendships depends upon the continuity of good fortune.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
The world can doubtless never be well known by theory: practice is absolutely necessary; but surely it is of great use to a young man, before he sets out for that country, full of mazes, windings, and turnings, to have at least a general map of it, made by some experienced traveler.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
The possibility of remedying imprudent actions is commonly an inducement to commit them.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
Whenever I go to an opera, I leave my sense and reason at the door with my half-guinea, and deliver myself up to my eyes and my ears.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
Good manners, to those one does not love, are no more a breach of truth, than "your humble servant," at the bottom of a challengeis; they are universally agreed upon, and understand to be things of course. They are necessary guards of the decency and peace of society.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
There is hardly anybody good for everything, and there is scarcely anybody who is absolutely good for nothing.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
A seeming ignorance is very often a most necessary part of worldly knowledge. It is, for instance, commonly advisable to seem ignorant of what people offer to tell you; and, when they say, Have you not heard of such a thing? to answer, No, and to let them go on, though you know it already.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
A man who cannot command his temper should not think of being a man in business.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
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.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
Smooth your way to the head, through the heart. The way of reason is a good one; but it is commonly something longer, and perhapsnot so sure.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
I have, by long experience, found women to be like Telephus's spear: if one end kills, the other cures.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
The value of moments, when cast up, is immense, if well employed; if thrown away, their loss is irrevocable.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
Choose the company of your superiors whenever you can have it.
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield