Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield Quotes

For years, I advised George Steinbrenner to get out of town because he dishonored my hometown with his bullying and bombast.

I don't like yelling insults at someone who's never done anything to me.

A gentleman will not insult me, and no man not a gentleman can insult me.

I don't talk to scum.

People step on my feet, and I say I'm sorry.

The greater the controversy, the more you need manners.

There's no excuse for rudeness.

Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.

In a day when, if you insulted a man it might cost you your life, you were probably more civil.

I personally apologize to any person who felt anything less than respected and valued by myself.

Never insult anyone by accident.

I would never disrespect anyone.

To confer dignity, forgive. To express contempt, forget.

A man needs to be polite, not just to me but to everyone. I watch that. How does he treat the waiter? How does he treat the coat-check girl? How does he treat the driver?

Gentleness corrects whatever is offensive in our manner.

As youngsters, my mother taught her children that while we might not be the smartest people around, we could be courteous, polite and considerate of others.

Politeness is, you know, is a wonderful thing. Manners are in fact, really important thing. But remember, Jesus didn't have many manners as we now know.

An apology? Bah! Disgusting! Cowardly! Beneath the dignity of any gentleman, however wrong he might be.

It's nice to be important, but it's important to always be nice.

If there is anyone here whom I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.

For the most part, I think of PC as meaning Plain Civil. You treat people the way you'd like to be treated yourself, and that means not using language that is demeaning.

I have no intention of offending somebody who writes a weekly column.

Sir, the gentleman soils the spot he stands on.

Let all things be done decently and in good order.

Once a gentleman, and always a gentleman.