Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield - Seldom Quotes

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

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
It is an undoubted truth, that 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 therfore one seldom does it at all.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
Our prejudices are our mistresses; reason is at best our wife, very often heard indeed, but seldom minded.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
As fathers commonly go, it is seldom a misfortune to be fatherless; and considering the general run of sons, as seldom a misfortune to be childless.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
There are some occasions in which a man must tell half his secret, in order to conceal the rest; but there is seldom one in which a man should tell all. Great skill is necessary to know how far to go, and where to stop.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
You will find that reason, which always ought to direct mankind, seldom does; but that passions and weaknesses commonly usurp itsseat, and rule in its stead.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
The New Year is the season in which custom seems more particularly to authorize civil and harmless lies, under the name of compliments. People reciprocally profess wishes which they seldom form and concern which they seldom feel.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield