hate more, accordingly as they respectively deserve it; but that would be exactly the same, between any man and woman, who lived together without being married. [Same date.]
Snubbing a "Wit."—I always put these pert
jackanapeses out of countenance, by looking
extremely grave, when they expect that I should
laugh at their pleasantries; and by saying Well, and
so; as if they had not done, and that the sting were
still to come. This disconcerts them, as they have
no resources in themselves, and have but one set
of jokes to live upon. [Same date.]
Method and Manner.—The manner of doing
things is often more important than the things
themselves; and the very same thing may become
either pleasing or offensive, by the manner of saying
or doing it. Materiam superabat opus is often said
of works of sculpture, where though the materials
were valuable, as silver, gold, etc., the workmanship
was still more so. [Same date.]
Chesterfield's Proposed Aim.—The end which
I propose by your education, and which (if you
please) I shall certainly attain, is to unite in you the
knowledge of a scholar with the manners of a
courtier; and to join, what is seldom joined in any
