Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotations on Politeness

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

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

This is the one quality, over all others, necessary to make a gentleman.
William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Historian, Novelist, Editor

Politeness is to human nature what warmth is to wax.
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher

Men, like bullets, go farthest when they are smoothest.
Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist

To be over-polite is to be rude.
Japanese Proverb

Moving parts in contact require lubrication to avoid excessive wear. Honorifics and formal politeness provide lubrication where people rub together. Often, the very young, the untraveled, the naive, the unsophisticated deplore these formalities as empty, meaningless, or dishonest, and scorn to use them. No matter how pure their motives, they thereby throw sand into the machinery that does not work too well at best.
Robert A. Heinlein (1907–88) American Science Fiction Writer

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

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

Politeness is a mixture of discretion, civility, complaisance, and circumspection spread over all we do and say.
Montesquieu (1689–1755) French Political Philosopher, Jurist

Self-command is the main elegance.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher

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

Politeness smoothes wrinkles.
Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist

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

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

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

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

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

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

Politeness has been well defined as benevolence in small things.
Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay (1800–59) English Historian, Essayist, Philanthropist

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

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

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

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

New York and surrounding country have been experiencing the worst snowstorms in years. Curiously, they have brought out the best qualities in human nature. Ordinarily, on the streets and in country roads, each man, each driver, is out for himself and delights in scoring over others. But I have noticed, both in the city and in the country, and entirely different spirit since travel became extremely difficult, sometimes impossible. Wagon drivers and truck drivers have shown the greatest readiness to help out others. Politeness not ordinarily witnessed has been the rule rather than the exception. … .
B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher

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