Lord Chesterfield Stanhope

Ridicule is the best test of truth.

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

Style is the dress of thoughts . . .; if your style is homely, coarse, and vulgar, they will appear to as much disadvantage, and be as ill received, as your person, though ever so well-proportioned, would if dressed in rags, dirt, and tatters.

I recommend you to take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves.

Know the true value of time! Snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Be wiser than other people if you can; but do not tell them so.

Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.

Advice is seldom welcome, and those who need it the most, like it the least.

Be your character what it will, it will be known; and nobody will take it upon your word.

There is hardly anybody good for everything, and there is scarcely anybody who is absolutely good for nothing.