There is no policy like politeness; and a good manner is the best thing in the world either to get a good name, or to supply the want of it.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Politeness has been well defined as benevolence in small things.
—Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay (1800–59) English Historian, Essayist, Philanthropist
Politeness does not always evince goodness, equity, complaisance, or gratitude, but it gives at least the appearance of these qualities, and makes man appear outwardly as he should be within.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
There is no outward sign of politeness which has not a deep, moral reason. Behavior is a mirror in which every one shows his own image. There is a politeness of the heart akin to love, from which springs the easiest politeness of outward behavior.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
The polite of every country seem to have but one character. A gentleman of Sweden differs but little, except in trifles, from one of any other country. It is among the vulgar we are to find those distinctions which characterize a people.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
To be over-polite is to be rude.
—Japanese Proverb
True politeness is perfect ease and freedom. It simply consists in treating others just as you love to be treated yourself.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
The spirit of politeness is a desire to bring about by our words and manners, that others may be pleased with us and with themselves.
—Montesquieu (1689–1755) French Political Philosopher, Jurist
As charity covers a multitude of sins before God, so does politeness before men.
—George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick (1746–1816) British Nobleman, Politician
Put it in practice, and all will be charmed with your manners.
—Lydia H. Sigourney (1791–1865) American Poetaster, Author
Mutual comulaisances, attentions, and sacrifices of little conveniences, are as natural an implied compact between civilized people, as protection and obedience are between kings and subjects; whoever, in either case, violates that compact, justly forfeits all advantages arising from it.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
In all the affairs of life, social as well as political, courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest to the grateful and appreciating heart.
—Henry Clay (1777–1852) American Politician
Politeness is not always the sign of wisdom, but the want of it always leaves room for the suspicion of folly.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
The true effect of genuine politeness seems to be rather ease than pleasure.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
This is the one quality, over all others, necessary to make a gentleman.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Historian, Novelist, Editor
Men, like bullets, go farthest when they are smoothest.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Philosopher
Politeness is to human nature what warmth is to wax.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
Politeness is fictitious benevolence. It supplies the place of it among those who see each other only in public, or but little. The want of it never fails to produce something disagreeable to one or other.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Not to perceive the little weaknesses and the idle but innocent affectations of the company may be allowable as a sort of polite duty. The company will be pleased with you if you do, and most probably will not be reformed by you if you do not.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
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
Politeness is a mixture of discretion, civility, complaisance, and circumspection spread over all we do and say.
—Montesquieu (1689–1755) French Political Philosopher, Jurist
Politeness is good nature regulated by good sense.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
True politeness requires humility, good sense, and benevolence. To think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, destroys its quickening principle.
—Lydia H. Sigourney (1791–1865) American Poetaster, Author
Good breeding is the result of much good sense, some good nature, and a little self-denial for the sake of others, and with a view to obtain the same indulgence from them.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Politeness: The most acceptable hypocrisy.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Politeness is to goodness what words are to thought. It tells not only on the manners, but on the mind and the heart; it renders the feelings, the opinions, the words, moderate and gentle.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Politeness smoothes wrinkles.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Politeness is the result of good sense and good nature. A person possessed of these qualities, though he has never seen a court, is truly agreeable; and if without them, would continue a clown, though he had been all his lifetime a gentleman usher.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Self-command is the main elegance.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Discourtesy does not spring merely from one bad quality, but from several—from foolish vanity, from ignorance of what is due to others, from indolence, from stupidity, from distraction of thought, from contempt of others, from jealousy.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Leave a Reply