Getting What You Want from Others

From their first publication Chesterfield's letters were considered scandalous. Samuel Johnson said they taught the morals of a whore and the manners of a dancing-master. In reality Chesterfield advocated a strict morality that condemned lying rudeness cheating corruption vanity idleness ridiculing others and vulgarity. In their place he recommended good manners respect for the beliefs and opinions of others propriety generosity charity eloquence grace amiability good humor self-control common sense and the Golden Rule to woo others win their hearts and advance one's own agenda. The purpose of this book is to encapsulate Chesterfield's teachings in presentations accessible and easily understood by today's readers. Advice on similar topics is extracted from several letters brought together given headings and arranged where possible in point-by-point format.