Lord Chesterfield

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

Learning is acquired by reading books, but the much more necessary learning, the knowledge of the world, is only to be acquired by reading men, and studying all the various facets of them.

Be wiser than other people, if you can, but do not tell them so.

Be wiser than other people, if you can, but do not tell them so.

Never seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked.

There is hardly anybody good for everything, and there is scarcely anybody who is absolutely good for nothing.

Choose your pleasures for yourself, and do not let them be imposed upon you.
Lord Chesterfield - Letters to His Son, 1746, published 1774
The knowledge of the world is only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet.

I recommend that you take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves.

Sex: the pleasure is momentary, the position ridiculous, and the expense damnable.

I recommend you to take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves.
Lord Chesterfield - letter to his godson, December 18, 1765
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.

[Common sense] is the best sense I know of.

Choose your pleasures for yourself, and do not let them be imposed upon you.

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.

Most people enjoy the inferiority of their friends.

- Lord Chesterfield