Letters, sentences and maxims

Name: Letters, sentences and maxims
Author: Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of

Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of

Conduct of life; Maxims

SMALL TALK.--I am far from meaning by this, that you should always
be talking wisely, in company, of books, history, and matters of
knowledge. There are many companies which you will and ought to keep,
where such conversations would be misplaced and ill-timed; your own
good sense must distinguish the company, and the time. You must trifle
with triflers, and be serious only with the serious, but dance to those
who pipe. _Cur in theatrum Cato severe venisti?_ was justly said to
an old man; how much more so would it be to one of your age? From the
moment that you are dressed, and go out, pocket all your knowledge
with your watch, and never pull it out in company unless desired: the
producing of the one unasked implies that you are weary of the company;
and the producing of the other unrequired will make the company weary
of you. Company is a republic too jealous of its liberties to suffer
a dictator even for a quarter of an hour; and yet in that, as in all
republics, there are some who really govern, but then it is by seeming
to disclaim, instead of attempting to usurp, the power; that is the
occasion in which manners, dexterity, address, and the undefinable _je
ne sais quoi_ triumph; if properly exerted, their conquest is sure, and
the more lasting for not being perceived. Remember, that this is not
only your first and greatest, but ought to be almost your only object,
while you are in France. [_Same date._]


A RAKE.--Having mentioned the word rake, I must say a word or two
more upon that subject, because young people too frequently, and
always fatally, are apt to mistake that character for that of a man
of pleasure; whereas, there are not in the world two characters more
different. A rake is a composition of all the lowest, most ignoble,
degrading, and shameful vices; they all conspire to disgrace his
character, and to ruin his fortune; while wine and disease contend
which shall soonest and most effectually destroy his constitution. A
dissolute, flagitious footman, or porter, makes full as good a rake as
a man of the first quality. By the by, let me tell you, that in the
wildest part of my youth I never was a rake, but, on the contrary,
always detested and despised the character.[48] [_Nov. 8, 1750._]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Letters, sentences and maximsChesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of

General

Letters, sentences and maxims

Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of

Conduct of life; Maxims

SMALL TALK.--I am far from meaning by this, that you should always
be talking wisely, in company, of books, history, and matters of
knowledge. There are many companies which you will and ought to keep,
where such conversations would be misplaced and ill-timed; your own
good sense must distinguish the company, and the time. You must trifle
with triflers, and be serious only with the serious, but dance to those
who pipe. _Cur in theatrum Cato severe venisti?_ was justly said to
an old man; how much more so would it be to one of your age? From the
moment that you are dressed, and go out, pocket all your knowledge
with your watch, and never pull it out in company unless desired: the
producing of the one unasked implies that you are weary of the company;
and the producing of the other unrequired will make the company weary
of you. Company is a republic too jealous of its liberties to suffer
a dictator even for a quarter of an hour; and yet in that, as in all
republics, there are some who really govern, but then it is by seeming
to disclaim, instead of attempting to usurp, the power; that is the
occasion in which manners, dexterity, address, and the undefinable _je
ne sais quoi_ triumph; if properly exerted, their conquest is sure, and
the more lasting for not being perceived. Remember, that this is not
only your first and greatest, but ought to be almost your only object,
while you are in France. [_Same date._]


A RAKE.--Having mentioned the word rake, I must say a word or two
more upon that subject, because young people too frequently, and
always fatally, are apt to mistake that character for that of a man
of pleasure; whereas, there are not in the world two characters more
different. A rake is a composition of all the lowest, most ignoble,
degrading, and shameful vices; they all conspire to disgrace his
character, and to ruin his fortune; while wine and disease contend
which shall soonest and most effectually destroy his constitution. A
dissolute, flagitious footman, or porter, makes full as good a rake as
a man of the first quality. By the by, let me tell you, that in the
wildest part of my youth I never was a rake, but, on the contrary,
always detested and despised the character.[48] [_Nov. 8, 1750._]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Letters, sentences and maxims

Letters, sentences and maxims

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