Ceremonies are different in every country, but true politeness is everywhere the same.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Comport thyself in life as at a banquet. If a plate is offered thee, extend thy hand and take it moderately; if it is to be withdrawn, do not detain it. If it come not to thy side, make not thy desire loudly known, but wait patiently till it be offered thee.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
There can be no defense like elaborate courtesy.
—E. V. Lucas (1868–1938) British Writer, Humorist, Playwright
The manner of a vulgar man has freedom without ease; the manner of a gentleman, ease without freedom.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Rules of conduct, whatever they may be, are not sufficient to produce good results unless the ends sought are good.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
The society of women is the element of good manners.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
To be always thinking about your manners is not the way to make them good; the very perfection of manners is not to think about yourself.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
Savages we call them because their manners differ from ours.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Decency is the least of all laws, but yet it is the law which is most strictly observed.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Good breeding consists in having no particular mark of any profession, but a general elegance of manners.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Nature is the best posture-master.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
There are men whose manners have the same essential splendor as the simple and awful sculpture on the friezes of the Parthenon, and the remains of the earliest Greek art.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
In truth, politeness is artificial good humor, it covers the natural want of it, and ends by rendering habitual a substitute nearly equivalent to the real virtue.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
No man is a true gentleman who does not inspire the affection and devotion of his servants.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Good-breeding is the art of showing men, by external signs, the internal regard we have for them. It arises from good sense, improved by conversing with good company.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (234–149 BCE) Roman Statesman
Really big people are, above everything else, courteous, considerate and generous—not just to some people in some circumstances—but to everyone all the time.
—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1956) American Business Executive
Learn young about hard work and manners – and you’ll be through the whole dirty mess and nicely dead again before you know it.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American Novelist
Men, like bullets, go farthest when they are smoothest.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Philosopher
The only true source of politeness is consideration.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Historian, Novelist, Editor
A man can buy nothing in the market with gentility.
—William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (1521–98) British Statesman, Advisor
To speak kindly does not hurt the tongue.
—Common Proverb
What is the appropriate behavior for a man or a woman in the midst of this world, where each person is clinging to his piece of debris? What’s the proper salutation between people as they pass each other in this flood?
—Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) Canadian Singer, Songwriter, Poet, Novelist
It is certain that either wise bearing or ignorant carriage is caught, as men take diseases, one of another; therefore let men take heed of their company.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Civility costs nothing.
—Common Proverb
To find out what others are feeling, don’t prod or poke. If you want play with a turtle, you can’t get it to come out of its shell by prodding and poking it with a stick, you might kill it. Be gentle not harsh, hard or forceful.
—Unknown
His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone as punctilious as himself the correspondence ended only with death.
—Evelyn Waugh (1903–66) British Novelist, Essayist, Biographer
The test of good manners is to be able to put up pleasantly with bad ones.
—Wendell Willkie (1892–1944) American Politician, Lawyer
Consideration for others is the basic of a good life, a good society.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
I prefer to leave standing up, like a well-mannered guest at a party.
—Leontyne Price (b.1927) American Opera Singer
Men are like wine; not good before the lees of clownishness be settled.
—Owen Feltham (1602–68) English Essayist
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