Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield - Mind Quotes

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So much are our minds influenced by the accidents of our bodies, that every man is more the man of the day than a regular and consequential character.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Observe it, the vulgar often laugh, but never smile, whereas well-bred people often smile, and seldom or never laugh. A witty thing never excited laughter, it pleases only the mind and never distorts the countenance.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Custom has made dancing sometimes necessary for a young man; therefore mind it while you learn it, that you may learn to do it well, and not be ridiculous, though in a ridiculous act.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Any affectation whatsoever in dress implies, in my mind, a flaw in the understanding.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Idleness is only the refuge of weak minds.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Little minds mistake little objects for great ones, and lavish away upon the former that time and attention which only the latter deserve. To such mistakes we owe the numerous and frivolous tribe of insect-mongers, shell-mongers, and pursuers and driers of butterflies, etc. The strong mind distinguishes, not only between the useful and the useless, but likewise between the useful and the curious.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Whatever you do, do it to the purpose; do it thoroughly, not superficially. Go to the bottom of things. Any thing half done, or half known, is in my mind, neither done nor known at all. Nay, worse, for it often misleads.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

In my mind, there is nothing so illiberal and so ill-bred, as audible laughter.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Study the heart and the mind of man, and begin with your own. Meditation and reflection must lay the foundation of that knowledge, but experience and practice must, and alone can, complete it.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

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.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Mind not only what people say, but how they say it; and if you have any sagacity, you may discover more truth by your eyes than by your ears. People can say what they will, but they cannot look just as they will; and their looks frequently (reveal) what their words are calculated to conceal.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

I have seen many people, who, while you are speaking to them, instead of looking at, and attending to you, fix their eyes upon theceiling, or some other part of the room, look out of the window, play with a dog, twirl their snuff-box, or pick their nose. Nothing discovers a little, futile, frivolous mind more than this, and nothing is so offensively ill-bred.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield