Lord Chesterfield Stanhope

I assisted at the birth of that most significant word "flirtation," which dropped from the most beautiful mouth in the world.

Real friendship is a slow grower, and never thrives unless engrafted upon a stock of known and reciprocal merit.

Great merit, or great failings, will make you respected or despised; but trifles, little attentions, mere nothings, either done or neglected, will make you either liked or disliked in the general run of the world.

A man of sense may be in haste, but can never be in a hurry.

Idleness is only the refuge of weak minds.

Learning is acquired by reading books; but the much more necessary learning, the knowledge of the world, is only to be acquired by reading man, and studying all the various editions of them.

An able man shows his spirit by gentle words and resolute actions. He is neither hot nor timid.