Better were it to be unborn than to be ill bred.
—Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) English Courtier, Navigator, Poet
The society of women is the element of good manners.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
I prefer to leave standing up, like a well-mannered guest at a party.
—Leontyne Price (b.1927) American Opera Singer
Manners are of more importance than laws. Upon them, in a great measure, the laws depend. The law can touch us here and there, now and then. Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarize or refine, by a constant, steady, uniform, insensible operation, like that of the air we breathe in. They give their whole form and color to our lives. According to their quality, they aid morals, they supply them, or they totally destroy them.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
It is more comfortable for me, in the long run, to be rude than polite.
—Wyndham Lewis (1882–1957) English Novelist, Painter, Critic
Politeness is the flower of humanity.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
To be good and disagreeable is high treason against the royalty of virtue.
—Hannah More
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
Good manners can replace morals. It may be years before anyone knows if what you are doing is right. But if what you are doing is nice, it will be immediately evident.
—P. J. O’Rourke (b.1947) American Journalist, Political Satirist
Of course, behaviorism works. So does torture. Give me a no-nonsense, down-to-earth behaviorist, a few drugs, and simple electrical appliances, and in six months I will have him reciting the Athanasian Creed in public.
—W. H. Auden (1907–73) British-born American Poet, Dramatist
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
Gravity must be natural and simple; there must be urbanity and tenderness in it.—A man must not formalize on everything.—He who does so is a fool; and a grave fool is, perhaps, more injurious than a light fool.
—Richard Cecil
The test of a man or woman’s breeding is how they behave in a quarrel.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
The prince of darkness may be a gentleman, as we are told he is, but, whatever the God of earth and heaven is, he can surely be no gentleman.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Bad manners are a species of bad morals; a conscientious man will not offend in that way.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Let your countenance be pleasant, but in serious matters let it be somewhat grave.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Meat makes, and clothes shapes, but manners makes a man.
—Scottish Proverb
Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Treat your superior as a father, your equal as a brother, and your inferior as a son.
—Persian Proverb
Hail! ye small sweet courtesies of life, for smooth do ye make the road of it, like grace and beauty which beget inclinations to love at first sight; ’tis ye who open the door and let the stranger in.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
Manner is everything with some people, and something with everybody.
—Conyers Middleton (1683–1750) English Clergyman, Theologian
Adorn yourself with all those graces and accomplishments which, without solidity, are frivolous; but without which, solidity is to a great degree useless.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
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
Teach your child to hold his tongue; he’ll learn fast enough to speak.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
What once were vices are manners now.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
I have seen manners that make a similar impression with personal beauty, that give the like exhilaration and refine us like that; and in memorable experiences they are certainly better than beauty, and make that superfluous and ugly. But they must be marked by fine perception, and must always show control; you shall not be facile, apologetic, or leaky, but king over your word; and every gesture and action shall indicate power at rest. They must be inspired by the good heart. There is no beautifier of complexion, or form or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy, and not pain, around us.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
There ought to be a system of manners in every nation which a well-formed mind would be disposed to relish. To make us love our country, our country ought to be lovely.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
It is better to have too much courtesy than too little, provided you are not equally courteous to all, for that would be injustice.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Better good manners than good looks.
—Common Proverb
Our manners have been corrupted by communication with the saints.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
What ever is the natural propensity of a person is hard to overcome. If a dog were made a king, he would still gnaw at his shoes laces.
—The Hitopadesha Indian Collection of Fables
Charm is a way of getting the answer yes without having asked any clear question.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Parents are usually more careful to bestow knowledge on their children rather than virtue, the art of speaking well rather than doing well; but their manners should be of the greatest concern.
—Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American Inventor, Philosopher
To speak kindly does not hurt the tongue.
—Common Proverb
Coolness, and absence of heat and haste, indicate fine qualities. A gentleman makes no noise; a lady is serene.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The small courtesies sweeten life; the greater ennoble it.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
The basis of good manners is self-reliance.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Manners require time, and nothing is more vulgar than haste.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The world of the happy is quite different from that of the unhappy.
—Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian-born British Philosopher
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
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
Manners are one of the greatest engines of influence ever given to man.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
People who have little to do are excessive talkers.
—Common Proverb
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
Manners are especially the need of the plain. The pretty can get away with anything.
—Evelyn Waugh (1903–66) British Novelist, Essayist, Biographer
How majestic is naturalness. I have never met a man whom I really considered a great man who was not always natural and simple. Affectation is inevitably the mark of one not sure of himself.
—Charles G. Dawes (1865–1951) American Diplomat, Politician
Good manners are the small coin of virtue.
—Anonymous
Courtesy is the one coin you can never have too much of or be stingy with.
—John Wanamaker (1838–1922) American Merchant, Civil Servant