THE
EARL OF CHESTERFIELD’S ADVICE TO HIS SON
It was Philip Stanhope (1694-1773), the
4th Earl of Chesterfield, who was a prominent British statesman,
diplomat, and an author with genuine poetic gifts. He is best remembered for Letters to His Son published
posthumously in 1774. Through the suggestions given in his letters, he wished
to make his son “Man of the World” and a “Gentleman. A good number of letters
written to him on etiquette, statecraft,
and personal refinement begin with the
words “Dear Boy”.
Given below are a few quotes from
one of his representative letters.
1.
Errors
and mistakes, however gross, in matters of opinion, if they are sincere, are to
be pitied, but not punished nor laughed at.
2.
The
blindness of the understanding is as much to be pitied as the blindness of the
eye; and there is neither jest nor guilt in a man’s losing his way in either case.
Charity bids us set him right if we can, by arguments and persuasions; but
charity, at the same time, forbids, either to punish or ridicule his
misfortune.
3.
Every
man’s reason is, and must be, his guide.
4.
Every
man seeks for truth; but God only knows who has found it.
5.
It
is the man who tells, or who acts a lie, that is guilty, and not he who
honestly and sincerely believes the lie. I really know nothing more criminal,
more mean, and more ridiculous than lying.
6.
Lies
are always detected sooner or later.
7.
Remember
as long as you live that nothing but strict truth can carry you through the
world, with either your conscience or your honour unwounded.
8.
The
pleasures of the mind, which are the solid and permanent ones, do not come under
the head of what people commonly call pleasures; which they seem to confine to
the senses. The pleasures of virtue, and of learning is true and lasting
pleasure.
9.
Tell
me who you live with and I will tell you who you are.
10.
The art of pleasing is a very necessary one to
possess; but a very difficult one to acquire.
*****
G. R Kanwal
30 September 2026
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