Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield Quotes

It was time to pull my moral socks up and behave myself.

Chastity is a virtue with some, but with many it is almost a vice.

What we take for virtue is often but an assemblage of various ambitions and activities that chance, or our own astuteness, have arranged in a certain manner; and it is not always out of courage or purity that men are brave, and women chaste.

Observe decorum, and it will open a path to morality.

We must watch over our modesty in the presence of those who cannot understand its grounds.

Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.

I deserve respect for the things I did not do.

Though a man cannot abstain from being weak, he may from being vicious.

He cannot be vertuous that is not rigorous.

It is easy to be virtuous in prospective.

If I am virtuous and worthy, for whom should I not maintain a proper concern?

The superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this.

Most men are more willing to indulge in easy vices than to practise laborious virtues.

May your mind be thoroughly impressed with the absolute necessity of universal virtue and goodness, as the only sure road to happiness, and may you walk therein with undeviating steps.

I think that ethical behaviour is another feature of the kind of inner discipline that leads to a happier existence.

Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license.

Morality, taken as apart from religion, is but another name for decency in sin. It is just that negative species of virtue which consists in not doing what is scandalously depraved and wicked. But there is no heart of holy principle in it, any more than there is in the grosser sin.

Laws control the lesser man... Right conduct controls the greater one.

When about to commit a base deed, respect thyself, though there is no witness.

A person is born with desires of the eyes and ears, and a liking for beautiful sights and sounds. If he gives way to them, they will lead him to immorality and lack of restriction, and any ritual principles and propriety will be abandoned.

The end and perfection of our victories is to avoid the vices and infirmities of those whom we subdue.

When you can't have anything else, you can have virtue.

Hypocrisy is an homage that vice renders to virtue.

Assume a virtue, if you have it not. That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat; Of habits devil, is angel yet in this.