In this world we must either institute conventional forms of expression or else pretend that we have nothing to express; the choice lies between a mask and a figleaf.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Politeness: The most acceptable hypocrisy.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
A man’s own manner and character is what most becomes him.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Ceremony is necessary as the outwork and defense of manners.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Some are able and humane men and some are low-grade individuals with the morals of a goat, the artistic integrity of a slot machine, and the manners of a floorwalker with delusions of grandeur.
—Raymond Chandler (1888–1959) American Novelist
Simplicity of manner is the last attainment. Men are very long afraid of being natural, from the dread of being taken for ordinary.
—Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey (1773–1850) Scottish Judge, Literary Critic
We perhaps never detect how much of our social demeanor is made up of artificial airs, until we see a person who is at once beautiful and simple; without the beauty, we are apt to call simplicity awkwardness.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
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
To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
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
Always behave as if nothing had happened no matter what has happened.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist, Playwright, Critic
We are justified in enforcing good morals, for they belong to all mankind; but we are not justified in enforcing good manners, for good manners always mean our own manners.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
I place a high moral value on the way people behave. I find it repellent to have a lot, and to behave with anything other than courtesy in the old sense of the word—politeness of the heart, a gentleness of the spirit.
—Emma Thompson (b.1959) British Actress, Screenwriter, Activist
Nature is the best posture-master.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Civility costs nothing.
—Common Proverb
Unbecoming forwardness oftener proceeds from ignorance than impudence.
—George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick (1746–1816) British Nobleman, Politician
The only true source of politeness is consideration.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Historian, Novelist, Editor
The person who screams, or uses the superlative degree, or converses with heat, puts whole drawing-rooms to flight. If you wish to be loved, love measure. You must have genius or a prodigious usefulness if you will hide the want of measure.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
It is the privilege of any human work which is well done to invest the doer with a certain haughtiness. He can well afford not to conciliate, whose faithful work will answer for him.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Children are natural mimics who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners.
—Unknown
The manner of saying or of doing anything goes a great way in the value of the thing itself. It was well said of him that called a good office, if done harshly and with an ill will, a stony piece of bread: “It is necessary for him that is hungry to receive it, but it almost chokes a man in the going down.”
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
The great secret, Eliza, is not having bad manners or good manners or any other particular sort of manners, but having the same manner for all human souls: in short, behaving as if you were in Heaven, where there are no third-class carriages, and one soul is as good as another.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Let thy carriage be friendly, but not foolishly free; an unwary openness causeth contempt, but a little reservedness, respect; and handsome courtesy, kindness.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Manhood is melted into courtesies, valor into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones, too.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Treat your superior as a father, your equal as a brother, and your inferior as a son.
—Persian Proverb
Virtue itself offends when coupled with forbidding manners.
—Thomas Middleton (c.1580–1627) English Dramatist, Poet
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
Manner is everything with some people, and something with everybody.
—Conyers Middleton (1683–1750) English Clergyman, Theologian
I don’t think you want too much sincerity in society. It would be like an iron girder in a house of cards.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
Laws are always unstable unless they are founded on the manners of a nation; and manners are the only durable and resisting power in a people.
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist