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1 " Ridicule is the best test of truth. "
― Philip Dormer Stanhope
2 " If ever a man and his wife, or a man and his mistress, who pass nights as well as days together, absolutely lay aside all good breeding, their intimacy will soon degenerate into a coarse familiarity, infallibly productive of contempt or disgust. "
3 " In matters of religion and matrimony I never give advice, because I will not have anybody's torments in this world or the next laid to my charge. "
4 " Let blockheads read what blockheads wrote. "
5 " You will find that reason, which always ought to direct mankind, seldom does; but that passions and weaknesses commonly usurp its seat, and rule in its stead. "
6 " We are really so prejudiced by our educations, that, as the ancients deified their heroes, we deify their madmen. "
7 " Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. "
― Philip Dormer Stanhope ,
8 " In seeking wisdom thou art wise in imagining that thou hast attained it - thou art a fool. "
9 " Be wiser than other people if you can; but do not tell them so. "
10 " Conceal your learning from the companyNever display your learning, but on particular occasions. Reserve it for learned men, and let even these rather extort it from you, than appear forward to display it. Hence you will be deemed modest, and reputed to possess more knowledge than you really have. Never seem wiser or more learned than your company. The man who affects to display his learning, will be frequently questioned; and if found superficial, will be ridiculed and despised; if otherwise, he will be deemed a pedant. Nothing can lessen real merit (which will always shew itself) in the opinion of the world, but an ostentatious display by its possessor. "
11 " Conceal your learning from the company.Never display your learning, but on particular occasions. Reserve it for learned men, and let even these rather extort it from you, than appear forward to display it. Hence you will be deemed modest, and reputed to possess more knowledge than you really have. Never seem wiser or more learned than your company. The man who affects to display his learning, will be frequently questioned; and if found superficial, will be ridiculed and despised; if otherwise, he will be deemed a pedant. Nothing can lessen real merit (which will always shew itself) in the opinion of the world, but an ostentatious display by its possessor. "
12 " Take care in your minutes, and the hours will take care of themselves. "
13 " 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. "
14 " Idleness is only the refuge of weakminds, and the holiday of fools. "
― Philip Dormer Stanhope , Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman, 1746-47
15 " I recommend to you to take care of the minutes; for hours will take care of themselves. I am very sure, that many people lose two or three hours every day, by not taking care of the minutes. "
― Philip Dormer Stanhope , Earl Of Chesterfield: Letters To His Son Part One
16 " Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore for a very long time. "
17 " A weak mind is like a microscope, which magnifies trifling things, but cannot receive great ones. "
18 " Common sense (which, in truth, is very uncommon) is the best sense I know of: abide by it; it will counsel you best. "
19 " Words are the dress of thoughts; which should no more be presented in rags, tatters, and dirt than your person should. "
20 " Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no delay, no procrastination; never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. "
