Lord Chesterfield Quotations | Page 4

Health ... is the first and greatest of all blessings.

Vice, in its true light, is so deformed, that it shocks us at first sight; and would hardly ever seduce us, if it did not at first wear the mask of some virtue.

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.

The less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in.

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it.

A weak mind is like a microscope, which magnifies trifling things, but cannot receive great ones.

Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it is unattainable. However, they who aim at it, and persevere, will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable.

Distrust all those who love you extremely upon a very slight acquaintance and without any visible reason.

Being pretty on the inside means you don't hit your brother and you eat all your peas - that's what my grandma taught me.

Let this be one invariable rule of your conduct--never to show the least symptom of resentment, which you cannot, to a certain degree, gratify; but always to smile, where you cannot strike.