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Women who are either indisputably beautiful, or indisputably ugly, are best flattered upon the score of their understandings but those who are in a state of mediocrity are best flattered upon their beauty, or at least their graces for every woman who is not absolutely ugly thinks herself handsome.

Lord Chesterfield

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Lord Chesterfield
Upon
Ugly
Understandings
Woman
Absolutely
Graces
Beautiful
Grace
Flattered
Women
Either
Flattery
States
Least
Handsome
Best
Beauty
Mediocrity
Every
Understanding
Score
Thinking
State
Thinks
Indisputably

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I am provoked at the contempt which most historians show for humanity in general one would think by them, that the whole human species consisted but of about a hundred and fifty people, called and dignified (commonly very undeservedly too) by the titles of Emperors, Kings, Popes, Generals, and Ministers.
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Merit and knowledge will not gain hearts, though they will secure them when gained.
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We are hardly ever grateful for a fine clock or watch when it goes right, and we pay attention to it only when it falters, for then we are caught by surprise. It ought to be the other way about.
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The value of moments, when cast up, is immense, if well employed if thrown away, their loss is irrecoverable.
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In my mind, there is nothing so illiberal, and so ill-bred, as audible laughter.
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I knew a gentleman who was so good a manager of his time that he would not even lose that small portion of it which the calls of nature obliged him to pass in the necessary-house but gradually went through all the Latin poets in those moments.
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Most arts require long study and application, but the most useful art of all, that of pleasing, requires only the desire.
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The heart never grows better by age I fear rather worse, always harder. A young liar will be an old one, and a young knave will only be a greater knave as he grows older.
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Indifference is commonly the mother of discretion.
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Our own self-love draws a thick veil between us and our faults.
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Whenever a man seeks your advice he generally seeks your praise.
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It must be owned, that the Graces do not seem to be natives of Great Britain and I doubt, the best of us here have more of rough than polished diamond.
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Sexual intercourse is a grossly overrated pastime the position is undignified, the pleasure momentary and the consequences damnable.
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Good breeding and good nature do incline us rather to help and raise people up to ourselves, than to mortify and depress them, and, in truth, our own private interest concurs in it, as it is making ourselves so many friends, instead of so many enemies.
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