Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-04-01
The Wit and Wisdom of Lord
Chesterfield.

tion-the superstructure will be easil,
finished afterwards.
2. Whenever you find anybody inca
pable of attention to the same-obiect fo
quarter Of an hour together, and easi
ly diverted from it, that person is frivo
lous, and incapable of anything great
Let nothing divert you from the thing
You are about, unless it be of mucl
greater consequence than that thing.
3. "How do you do?" is absolutely
nonsense, and has no meaning at all
but is used by everybody for "what Ii
the state Of your health"
4. They say that "great wits have
short memories" but | say that only
fools have short ones; because they are
incapable of attention, at least to any
thing that deserves it, and then they
complain of want of memory.
2. Can anything be more fatterins
than to be acknowledged to excel in
whatever one attempts? can ideness
and dissipation afford any pleasure
equal to thatp Qm nil molitur tnepte was
said of Homer, and is the best thing
that can be said of fanybody.
6. Dancing is in itself very trining,
silly thing, but it is one of those estab-
lished follies to which people Of sense
are sometimes obliged to conform: and
then they should be able to do it well.
T. Dress is very foolish thing, and
yet 1t is a very foolish thing for Il man
not to be well dressed according to his
rank and way of life; and it is so far
from being Il dlsparagement to any
mans understanding, that II Is rather Il
proofof it to be rs well dressed rs those
whom he lives with The difference in
this case between man of sense and q
fop Is, that the fop values himself upon
his dress, and the man Of sense laugh ut
it--at the same time that he knows that
he must not neglect 1t.
8. Diogenes, the Cynic, was II wise
man for despising the folies Of men, but
fool for showing it. BE wiser than
other people If you can, but do not tell
| them SO.
0. People who have n contempt for
mediOcrity are not satisfied with cscap-
ing censure; they aim nj praise, and by
desiring, seldom fail deserving and ac-
quiring it,
TO- Whenever you would persuade or
prevail, address yourself TO the passions; {;
1t is by them that mankind is to be taxi
en-. Caesar babe his soldiers at the bat
tie of Pharsalia, aim ut the faces of Pom
peys men. They did 80 and prevailed.
bid you strike II, the passions; and II
you do, yon too will prevail. If you
can once engage peoples pride, love,
pity, ambition (0r what Is their prevail
ing passion) on your side, you need not
fear what their reason may do against
you.
IL. To avoid extremes, TO observe pro-
priety to consult ones own strength
and to be consistent from beginning to
end, are precepts as useful for the
man as for the poet.
l2. The more you know men the less
you will trust them.
l3. Young people have commonly an
unguardedness and frankness; they con-
tract friendships easily, are credulous to
professions, and are always the dupes of
them.
II. Ifyou would have your secret
kept, keep II yourself, and, as It Is pos
slble that your friend may one day or
other become your enemy take care not
to put yourself In his power while he is
your friend.
| 10. The same arts and tricks that boys
| play upon one another for bats, balls,
and half-pence, men will make Use Of
with you when you become man, for
other purposes.
10. Underneath this stone doth lie
As much virtue as could die,
| Which, when alive, did vlgor give
10 IA much beauty as could live.
II. lie makes the satire who applies
it--qw capt. ilie Jdcu.
Is. There is no surcr sign In The world
Of n little weak mind, than inattention,
| 10. A man of sense sees, hears and re-
talns everything that passes whore he
| In.
20. Mind not only what people say,
but how they say IL; and II you have
any sagaclty, you may discover more
truth by your eyes than by your cars.
People can say what they will, br
they cannot look just rs they will; and
their looks frequently discover what
their words ARE calculated to conceal.
u. Certain forms, which all people
comply with, and certain arts, which
all people aim at, hide, In some degree
the truth, and give general exterior
resemblance TO almost everybody. At
tention and sagaclty must see through
that veil, and discover the natural char
acter. '.
~. Ifa man, with whom you are but
barely acquainted, and to whom YOU
have made no Offer, nor given any marks
Of friendship, makes you, on u sudden,
strong professions Of hls, receive them
with clyllity, but do not repay thcul
with confidence. lie certainly ueans I,
deceive you, for one man does not fall
IN love with another NJ sight.
10. lfa man uae strong protestatlonI
oe natbs IN utnla vou bellpVp A thing