Politeness is as much concerned in answering letters within a reasonable time, as it is in returning a bow, immediately. – Lord Chesterfield
Women are much more like each other than men: they have, in truth, but two passions, vanity and love; these are their universal characteristics. – Lord Chesterfield
Manners must adorn knowledge and smooth its way in the world, without them it is like a great rough diamond, very well in a closet by way of curiosity, and also for its intrinsic value; but most prized when polished. – Lord Chesterfield
The heart never grows better by age I fear rather worse, always harder. A young liar will be an old one, and a young knave will only be a greater knave as he grows older. – Lord Chesterfield
Letters are above all useful as a means of expressing the ideal self; and no other method of communication is quite so good for this purpose. In letters we can reform without practice, beg without humiliation, snip and shape embarrassing experiences to the measure of our own desires… – Elizabeth Hardwick