Abject flattery and indiscriminate assentation degrade, as much as indiscriminate contradiction and noisy debate disgust. But a modest assertion of one's own opinion, and a complaisant acquiescence in other people's, preserve dignity. (Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield)

Abject flattery and indiscriminate assentation degrade, as much as indiscriminate contradiction and noisy debate disgust. But a modest assertion of one's own opinion, and a complaisant acquiescence in other people's, preserve dignity.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

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abject acquiescence assentation assertion contradiction debate dignity disgust flattery opinion preserve

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