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Arbitrary power has seldom... been introduced in any country at once. It must be introduced by slow degrees, and as it were step by step.

Lord Chesterfield

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Lord Chesterfield
Slow
Terrorism
Degrees
Step
Steps
Power
Introduced
Country
Arbitrary
Must
Seldom

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I am convinced that a light supper, a good night's sleep, and a fine morning, have sometimes made a hero of the same man, who, by an indigestion, a restless night, and rainy morning, would have proved a coward.
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For my own part, I would rather be in company with a dead man than with an absent one for if the dead man gives me no pleasure, at least he shows me no contempt whereas the absent one, silently indeed, but very plainly, tells me that he does not think me worth his attention.
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Talk often, but never long in that case, if you do not please, at least you are sure not to tire your hearers. Pay your own reckoning, but do not treat the whole company this being one of the few cases in which people do not care to be treated, every one being fully convinced that he has wherewithal to pay.
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Women who are either indisputably beautiful, or indisputably ugly, are best flattered upon the score of their understandings.
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In my mind, there is nothing so illiberal, and so ill-bred, as audible laughter.
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This is the day when people reciprocally offer, and receive, the kindest and the warmest wishes, though, in general, without meaning them on one side, or believing them on the other. They are formed by the head, in compliance with custom, though disavowed by the heart, in consequence of nature.
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We are really so prejudiced by our educations, that, as the ancients deified their heroes, we deify their madmen.
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Few people do business well, who do nothing else.
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Style is the dress of thoughts, and let them be ever so just.
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Lady ---- is safely delivered of a son, to the great joy of that noble family. The expression, of a woman's having brought her husband a son, seems to be a proper and cautious one for it is never said, from whence.
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Be your character what it will, it will be known, and nobody will take it upon your word.
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Wear your knowledge like your watch - in you pocket - and don't pull it out just for show.
Lord Chesterfield
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Style is the dress of thoughts and let them be ever so just, if your style is homely, coarse, and vulgar, they will appear to as much disadvantage, and be as ill received, as your person, though ever so well-proportioned, would if dressed in rags, dirt, and tatters.
Lord Chesterfield
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I wish... that you had as much pleasure in following my advice, as I have in giving it.
Lord Chesterfield
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I look upon indolence as a sort of suicide.
Lord Chesterfield
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Health ... is the first and greatest of all blessings.
Lord Chesterfield
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In the case of scandal, as in that of robbery, the receiver is always thought as bad as the thief.
Lord Chesterfield
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A man who owes a little can clear it off in a very little time, and, if he is a prudent man, will whereas a man, who by long negligence, owes a great deal, despairs of ever being able to pay, and therefore never looks into his accounts at all.
Lord Chesterfield
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A man who cannot command his temper, his attention, and his countenance should not think of being a man of business.
Lord Chesterfield
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Ridicule is the best test of truth.
Lord Chesterfield