I knew once a very covetous, sordid fellow, who used frequently to say, “Take care of the pence, for the pounds will take care of themselves.”

Chesterfield frames the proverb as something he heard from a “covetous, sordid fellow,” signaling moral distance from the sentiment even as he records it. The maxim—mind small sums and large sums will follow—encapsulates a thrift ethic: careful attention to minor expenditures prevents waste and, cumulatively, preserves wealth. By attributing it to an unpleasant character, Chesterfield also hints at an ambiguity in prudence: what can be sensible economy may slide into petty miserliness when motivated by greed rather than judgment. The quote thus works both as a memorable statement about financial discipline and as a character sketch that critiques narrow, money-centered thinking.

Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves.
Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.