Letters Written by Lord Chesterfield to His Son, Volume 2

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Page 66 - His figure (without being deformed) seems made to disgrace or ridicule the common structure of the human body. His legs and arms are never in the position which, according to the situation of his body, they ought to be in, but constantly employed in committing acts of hostility upon the Graces.
Page 76 - I was particularly attentive to the choice of my words, to the harmony and roundness of my periods, to my elocution, to my action. This succeeded, and ever will succeed ; they thought I informed, because I pleased them; and many of them said that I had made the whole very clear to them; when, God knows, I had not even attempted it.
Page 64 - They alone can inflame or quiet the House; they alone are so attended to, in that numerous and noisy assembly, that you might hear a pin fall while either of them is speaking. Is it that their matter is better, or their arguments stronger, than other people's? Does the House expect extraordinary informations from them? Not in the least: but the House expects pleasure from them, and therefore attends ; finds it, and therefore approves.
Page 76 - ... Macclesfield, who had the greatest share in forming the bill, and who is one of the greatest mathematicians and astronomers in Europe, spoke afterwards with infinite knowledge, and all the clearness that so intricate a matter would admit of: but as his words, his periods, and his utterance, were not near so good as mine, the preference was most unanimously, though most unjustly, given to me.
Page 185 - Want as much more to turn it to its use; For wit and judgment often are at strife, Though meant each other's aid, like man and wife.
Page 343 - Your guest, Miss Chudleigh,* is another problem which I cannot solve. She no more wanted the waters of Carlsbadt, than you did. Is it to show the Duke of Kingston that he cannot live without her ? A dangerous experiment ! which may possibly convince him that he can. There is a trick, no doubt, in it; but what, I neither know nor care ; you did very well to show her civilities, cela ne gate jamais rien.
Page 52 - As they are mere matters of usage aud mode, it is no disgrace for anybody of your age to be ignorant of them ; and the most compendious way of learning them is, fairly to avow your ignorance, and to consult those who, from long usage and experience, know them best. Good sense, and good nature, suggest civility in general ; but in good breeding there are a thousand little delicacies which are established only by custom...
Page 230 - ... all the symptoms, which I have ever met with in history previous to great changes and revolutions in government, now exist, and daily increase in France.
Page 262 - That the less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in. One yawns, one procrastinates ; one can do it when one will, and therefore one seldom does it at all : whereas those who have a great deal of business must (to use a vulgar expression) buckle to it ; and then they always find time enough to do it in.

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