Quote#World
The herd of mankind can hardly be said to think; their notions are…
Quote byPhilip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield · 1694–1773
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774), 7 February 1749.
English (original)
The herd of mankind can hardly be said to think; their notions are almost all adoptive; and, in general, I believe it is better that it should be so; as such common prejudices contribute more to order and quiet, than their own separate reasonings would do, uncultivated and unimproved as they are.
— Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
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