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The Cynic's Rules of Conduct
The Cynic's Rules of Conduct

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BY CHESTER FIELD, JR.
Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.
The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.
When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.
Remember, too, that perhaps you are not the sort of husband that Father used to make.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Cynic's Rules of Conduct

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BY CHESTER FIELD, JR.
/baɪ ˈtʃestər fiːld ˈdʒuːnjər/
Line 2
Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.
Line 3
The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.
/ðə ˈdɪfərəns bɪˈtwiːn ə bæd breɪk ənd ə fɔːks pɑːz ˈɪndɪkeɪts ðə kaɪnd ʌv səˈsaɪəti juː ɑːr ɪn/
Line 4
When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.
/wen əˈloʊn ɪn ˈperɪs bɪˈheɪv æz ɪf ɔːl ðə wɜːrld wɜːr jɔːr ˈmʌðərɪnlɔː/
Line 5
Remember, too, that perhaps you are not the sort of husband that Father used to make.
/rɪˈmɛm.bər tuː ðæt pərˈhæps juː ɑːr nɑːt ðə sɔːrt ʌv ˈhʌzbənd ðæt ˈfɑːðər juːzd tuː meɪk/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

behave verb US /bɪˈheɪv/

behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

From this reading “When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.”

cash noun US /kæʃ/

money in the form of bills or coins

From this reading “Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.”

chester noun US /ˈtʃestər/

a city of southeastern Pennsylvania on the Delaware river (an industrial suburb of Philadelphia)

From this reading “BY CHESTER FIELD, JR.”

faux adjective US /fɔːks/

not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article

indicates verb US /ˈɪndɪkeɪts/

third-person singular of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of

From this reading “The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.”

legacy noun US /ˈleɡəsi/

(law) a gift of personal property by will

From this reading “Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.”

mother-in-law noun US /ˈmʌðərɪnlɔː/

the mother of your spouse

From this reading “When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.”

pas noun US /pɑːz/

(ballet) a step in dancing (especially in classical ballet)

All words in this reading · 55

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.

AuntnounUS /ænt/

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

badadjectiveUS /bæd/

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

behaveverbUS /bɪˈheɪv/

behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

From this reading When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

breakverbUS /breɪk/

terminate

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading BY CHESTER FIELD, JR.

cashnounUS /kæʃ/

money in the form of bills or coins

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

CHESTERnounUS /ˈtʃestər/

a city of southeastern Pennsylvania on the Delaware river (an industrial suburb of Philadelphia)

From this reading BY CHESTER FIELD, JR.

differencenounUS /ˈdɪfərəns/

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

FathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Remember, too, that perhaps you are not the sort of husband that Father used to make.

fauxadjectiveUS /fɔːks/

not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

FIELDnounUS /fiːld/

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading BY CHESTER FIELD, JR.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

GoverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

husbandnounUS /ˈhʌzbənd/

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading Remember, too, that perhaps you are not the sort of husband that Father used to make.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

indicatesverbUS /ˈɪndɪkeɪts/

third-person singular of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

JRnounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/

a son who has the same first name as his father

From this reading BY CHESTER FIELD, JR.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

legacynounUS /ˈleɡəsi/

(law) a gift of personal property by will

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading Remember, too, that perhaps you are not the sort of husband that Father used to make.

mother-in-lawnounUS /ˈmʌðərɪnlɔː/

the mother of your spouse

From this reading When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Remember, too, that perhaps you are not the sort of husband that Father used to make.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

offerverbUS /ˈɔːfər/

make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

ParisnounUS /ˈperɪs/

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.

pasnounUS /pɑːz/

(ballet) a step in dancing (especially in classical ballet)

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading Remember, too, that perhaps you are not the sort of husband that Father used to make.

RememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading Remember, too, that perhaps you are not the sort of husband that Father used to make.

sluggardnoun

an idle slothful person

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

societynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Remember, too, that perhaps you are not the sort of husband that Father used to make.

spotnounUS /spɑːt/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Remember, too, that perhaps you are not the sort of husband that Father used to make.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Remember, too, that perhaps you are not the sort of husband that Father used to make.

usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading Remember, too, that perhaps you are not the sort of husband that Father used to make.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading When alone in Paris behave as if all the world were your mother-in-law.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The difference between a bad break and a _faux pas_ indicates the kind of society you are in.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Go to the Aunt, thou sluggard, and offer her ten off on your legacy for spot cash.

Chapter 1 of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct by Chester Field holds 178 sentences, grouped into 36 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct contain?

Chapter 1 holds 178 sentences of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct by Chester Field exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 178 sentences, grouped into 36 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Cynic's Rules of Conduct

Common questions about reading The Cynic's Rules of Conduct by Chester Field on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct?

Yes. All 178 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32227 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #32227, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Cynic's Rules of Conduct take to read?

About 14 minutes of reading across 36 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Cynic's Rules of Conduct section by section

How to work through The Cynic's Rules of Conduct section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Cynic's Rules of Conduct

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Cynic's Rules of Conduct, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chester
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Field
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sluggard
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Offer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Cynic's Rules of Conduct; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.