Quotes from Letitia Baldrige

Nothing ruins the flow of conversation more quickly than refusing a compliment you have just received. Never disagree with something nice that is said to you or about you.

One cannot reject an entire nation because of the politics of its leader.

Jeans of any sort should not be worn in nice restaurants. They pollute the landscape. They should also not be worn in the workplace if no other workers wear them. However, if your office is casual, go for it.

Jeans should never be worn to someone's home if you are having dinner there.

For every rude executive who makes it to the top, there are nine successful executives with good manners.

In Rome people seem to love with more zest, murder with more imagination, submit to creative urges more often, and lose the sense of logic more easily than in any other place.

We have lost the art of conversation. People are shy and don't know how to approach other people, and they are missing opportunities for relationships. And no one's entertaining at home anymore. They're not having people over for dinner.

Eating American-style, you put the knife down and clang. Continental is silent and efficient.

It's nice to compliment people on what they're wearing, but don't make insincere compliments.

Administrations had come and gone in Pennsylvania Avenue, but many old entertaining traditions had survived - thru habit and not thru merit.

The custom of going to a party only when we have been invited is a necessary, attractive, decent way for a party to evolve.

What the bride should do is call guests who have young children and say: 'I'd love to have the kids at the wedding, but we won't have room. Would you get a baby sitter, and when we get back from our honeymoon, we'll have you guys over?'

Before the Kennedys were elected, there had been older Presidents. Then here was this devastatingly attractive young couple with two beautiful children. They were so intelligent, graceful, gracious and funny. They enjoyed life so much. That's what caught America's eye.

More young people are aware of the need for thank yous and aware of the tremendous impression they make.

Make people have a smile when they finish your e-mail.

Knowing when and where to sit is something every young executive should learn. A junior person who comes barging into a room and takes any seat he wants catches the disapproving eye of senior management.

Manners make the world work. They're not only based on kindness but also efficiency. When people know what to do, the world is smoother. When no one knows what to do, it's chaos.

I've had three broken legs and two knee replacements. But I'm very good at apres golf.

I don't ever knock anybody; that's bad manners.

The Kennedys tried to avoid using the big U-shaped table, but when they couldn't, they had several tricks - including keeping the flowers simple - to keep it from appearing overly stiff and formal.

We have a lot of societal problems that we have to fix in the 1990s.

All of the First Ladies were good, creative and strong. I've always said they should be paid.

The First Lady has a lot of power. I hope Hillary Clinton realizes that.

I was considered the luckiest of all the female gypsies since I landed the job as social secretary to Ambassador and Mrs. David Bruce at the American Embassy.