Quotes About Officiousness

America, . . . a place of free expression of everything with everyone, which is made possible through the civil courage characteristic of the American and through the lack of all inhibiting officiousness in personal conversation" (Bonhoeffer, cf. report from 1931).

Gregory," she said, "you cannot leave me here. What if someone finds you and removes you from the house? Who will know I am here? And what if…and what if…and then what if…" He smiled, enjoying her officiousness too much to actually listen to her words. She was definitely herself again. "When this is all over," he said, "I shall bring you a sandwich." That stopped her short. "A sandwich? A sandwich?

Urging a boss to punish a worker for an overheard remark is the kind of officiousness that people sometimes resent.