Top 77 Quotes by Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Idleness is only the refuge of weak minds.

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.

A young man, be his merit what it will, can never raise himself; but must, like the ivy round the oak, twine himself round some man of great power and interest.

In matters of religion and matrimony I never give any advice; because I will not have anybody's torments in this world or the next laid to my charge.

Knowledge of the world in only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet.

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

Young men are apt to think themselves wise enough, as drunken men are apt to think themselves sober enough.

Wear your learning like your watch, in a private pocket; and do not pull it out, and strike it, merely to show that you have one.

Men, as well as women, are much oftener led by their hearts than by their understandings.

A novel must be exceptionally good to live as long as the average cat.