Common sense (which, in truth, is very uncommon) is the best sense I know of: abide by it; it will counsel you best.
Lord ChesterfieldRead
Be your character what it will, it will be known, and nobody will take it upon your word.
Interpretation
Your true character will always be revealed, regardless of what you say about it.
This quote emphasizes the importance of authenticity and integrity. Lord Chesterfield suggests that oneβs character is not defined by their words alone, but rather by their actions and behavior, which ultimately reveal who they truly are to others. People will form their opinions based on what they observe rather than what someone claims about themselves.
In practice
During a motivational speech to encourage authenticity in personal branding.
Common sense (which, in truth, is very uncommon) is the best sense I know of: abide by it; it will counsel you best.
Never seem wiser, nor more learned, than the people you are with. Wear your learning, like your watch, in a private pocket: and do not merely pull it out and strike it; merely to show that you have one.
If you can once engage people's pride, love, pity, ambition on your side, you need not fear what their reason can do against you.
Merit and knowledge will not gain hearts, though they will secure them when gained.
Firmness of purpose is one of the best instruments of success.
Wit is so shining a quality that everybody admires it; most people aim at it, all people fear it, and few love it unless in themselves. A man must have a good share of wit himself to endure a great share of it in another.
These scars bear witness but whether to repair or to destruction I no longer know.
Authority without wisdom is like a heavy ax without an edge -- fitter to bruise than polish.
To inquisitive minds like yours and mine the reflection that the quantity of human knowledge bears no proportion to the quantity of human ignorance must be in one view rather pleasing, viz., that though we are to live forever we may be continually amused and delighted with learning something new.
Humility is not denying your strengths, humility is being honest about your weaknesses.
No worse fate can befall a young man or woman than becoming prematurely entrenched in prudence and negation.
In an economy where the only certainty is uncertainty, the one sure source of lasting competitive advantage is knowledge.
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