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In the mass of mankind, I fear, there is too great a majority of fools and knaves who, singly from their number, must to a certain degree be respected, though they are by no means respectable.

Lord Chesterfield

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You must labour to acquire that great and uncommon talent of hating with good breeding, and loving with prudence to make no quarrel irreconcilable by silly and unnecessary indications of anger and no friendship dangerous, in care it breaks, by a wanton, indiscreet, and unreserved confidence.
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Young men are apt to think themselves wise enough, as drunken men are apt to think themselves sober enough.
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Dispatch is the soul of business.
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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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Letters should be easy and natural, and convey to the persons to whom we send them just what we should say to the persons if we were with them.
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Speak of the moderns without contempt and of the ancients without idolatry judge them all by their merits, but not by their age
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Nothing convinces persons of a weak understanding so effectually, as what they do not comprehend.
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Wise people may say what they will, but one passion is never cured by another.
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Women especially as to be talked to as below men, and above children.
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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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I sometimes give myself admirable advice, but I am incapable of taking it.
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If you love music hear it go to operas, concerts, and pay fiddlers to play to you but I insist upon your neither piping nor fiddling yourself. It puts a gentleman in a very frivolous, contemptible light brings him into a great deal of bad company and takes up a great deal of time, which might be much better employed.
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Pocket all your knowledge with your watch, and never pull it out in company unless desired.
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A wise man will live as much within his wit as within his income.
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Distrust those who love you extremely upon a slight acquaintance, and without any visible reason.
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Keep your hands clean and pure from the infamous vice of corruption, a vice so infamous that it degrades even the other vices thatmay accompany it. Accept no present whatever let your character in that respect be transparent and without the least speck, for as avarice is the vilest and dirtiest vice in private, corruption is so in public life.
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Human nature is the same everywhere the modes only are different.
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Real friendship is a slow grower.
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If a man, notoriously and designedly, insults and affronts you, knock him down but if he only injures you, your best revenge is to be extremely civil to him in your outward behaviour, though at the same time you counterwork him, and return him the compliment, perhaps with interest.
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Swift speedy time, feathered with flying hours, Dissolves the beauty of the fairest brow.
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