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Most maxim-mongers have preferred the prettiness to the justness of a thought, and the turn to the truth but I have refused myself to everything that my own experience did not justify and confirm.

Lord Chesterfield

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Lord Chesterfield
Preferred
Truth
Maxims
Everything
Refused
Justify
Justness
Turn
Mongers
Prettiness
Turns
Confirm
Experience
Maxim
Thought

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A man of sense may be in haste, but can never be in a hurry.
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The talent of insinuation is more useful than that of persuasion, as everybody is open to insinuation, but scarce any to persuasion.
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In the case of scandal, as in that of robbery, the receiver is always thought as bad as the thief.
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Not to care for philosophy is to be a true philospher.
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Love has been not unaptly compared to the small-pox, which most people have sooner or later.
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A novel must be exceptionally good to live as long as the average cat.
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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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The permanency of most friendships depends upon the continuity of good fortune.
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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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Few people do business well, who do nothing else.
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In friendship, as well as in love, the mind is often the dupe of the heart.
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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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If you can once engage people's pride, love, pity, ambition on your side, you need not fear what their reason can do against you.
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To know a little of anything gives neither satisfaction nor credit, but often brings disgrace or ridicule.
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We are as often duped by diffidence as by confidence.
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Half the business is done, when one has gained the heart and the affections of those with whom one is to transact it.
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Women are much more like each other than men: they have, in truth, but two passions, vanity and love these are their universal characteristics.
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Remember that the wit, humour, and jokes of most mixed companies are local. They thrive in that particular soil, but will not often bear transplanting.
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Whoever is in a hurry shows that the thing he is about is too big for him.
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