Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield Quotes

Common sense is the measure of the possible; it is composed of experience and prevision; it is calculation applied to life.

Fools admire, but men of sense approve.

Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.

In the last analysis sound judgment will prevail.

Philosophy is nothing but discretion.

Common sense is the most fairly distributed thing in the world, for each one thinks he is so well-endowed with it that even those who are hardest to satisfy in all other matters are not in the habit of desiring more of it than they already have.

It is a wise man who knows where courage ends and stupidity begins.

When you encounter seemingly good advice that contradicts other seemingly good advice, ignore them both.

My definition of an educated man is the fellow who knows the right thing to do at the time it has to be done. You can be sincere and still be stupid.

Discretion is the perfection of reason, and a guide to us in all the duties of life.

Wisdom is the quality that keeps you from getting into situations where you need it.

The rest is a mere matter of detail, to be settled with judgment, discretion, and caution.

Kerry is an adult - he thinks things through. He learns from the present as well as the past. To George Bush, thinking things through is for sissies.

In Greece wise men speak and fools decide.

Less judgment than wit is more sail than ballast.

Wise men don't need advice. Fools won't take it.

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.

... common sense is very rare.

It's not the quantity of your decisions; it's the quality.

Common sense is the most widely shared commodity in the world, for every man is convinced that he is well supplied with it.

Being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.

Opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making.

Intelligence divorced from judgment produces nothing but foolishness.

The foolish reject what they see and not what they think; the wise reject what they think and not what they see.

I think people got more common sense than people give 'em credit for.