I assisted at the birth of that most significant word "flirtation," which dropped from the most beautiful mouth in the world. - Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

I recommend to you, in my last, an innocent piece of art: that of flattering people behind their backs, in presence of those who, to make their own court, much more than for your sake, will not fail to repeat, and even amplify, the praise to the party concerned. This is of all flattery the most pleasing, and consequently the most effectual.

Women who are either indisputably beautiful, or indisputably ugly, are best flattered upon the score of their understandings; but those who are in a state of mediocrity are best flattered upon their beauty, or at least their graces; for every woman who is not absolutely ugly thinks herself handsome.

People will no more advance their civility to a bear, than their money to a bankrupt.