79 quotes
In short, let it be your maxim through life, to know all you can know, yourself; and never to trust implicitly to the informations of others.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
The young leading the young, is like the blind leading the blind; “they will both fall into the ditch.”
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
Knowledge may give weight, but accomplishments give luster, and many more people see than weigh.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
Advice is seldom welcome; and those who want it the most always like it the least.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
In my mind, there is nothing so illiberal and so ill-bred, as audible laughter.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
I assisted at the birth of that most significant word "flirtation," which dropped from the most beautiful mouth in the world.
I knew once a very covetous, sordid fellow, who used to say, "Take care of the pence, for the pounds will take care of themselves."
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
Women are much more like each other than men: they have, in truth, but two passions, vanity and love; these are their universal characteristics.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
An injury is much sooner forgotten than an insult.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
Manners must adorn knowledge, and smooth its way through the world. Like a great rough diamond, it may do very well in a closet by way of curiosity, and also for its intrinsic value.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
He adorned whatever subject he either spoke or wrote upon, by the most splendid eloquence.
The knowledge of the world is only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
The world is a country which nobody ever yet knew by description; one must travel through it one's self to be acquainted with it.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
No man tastes pleasures truly, who does not earn them by previous business; and few people do business well, who do nothing else.
A proper secrecy is the only mystery of able men; mystery is the only secrecy of weak and cunning ones.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
It is commonly said, and more particularly by Lord Shaftesbury, that ridicule is the best test of truth.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)
The vulgar only laugh, but never smile; whereas well-bred people often smile, but seldom laugh.
People will no more advance their civility to a bear, than their money to a bankrupt.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774)