Quotes About Politeness

Miss Manners' meager arsenal consists only of the withering look, the insistent and repeated request, the cold voice, the report up the chain of command and the tilted nose. They generally work.

One can become quite proficient at this amiable patter; the trick is to omit the instructive parts when attending formal dinner parties outside the house. It would be a mistake for Miss Manners to provide you with a list of no-no's. It may never have occurred to your children to laugh with a mouthful of soup, for instance, or to discharge unappreciated salad ingredients into the napkin. Here, instead, are a few yes-yes's: Small

It is a general rule to err on the side of formality rather than of intimacy.

Miss Manners' attitude is that it is better to bar the door to unwanted guests than to back them out through it.

She expects you to keep your eyes still while you say to the conductor, "Of course, I'd be glad to, but I especially wanted to sit by the window. Would you be good enough to find me another window seat? And then we could change.

GENTLE READER

Oh, I'm terribly sorry, but I can't." "I'd love to, but I'm afraid it's impossible." "Unfortunately, I can't, but I hope you can find someone." It

The polite thing would be to say to the noisy person, "I beg your pardon, but I can't hear the music. I wonder if you would mind talking more softly?" By the time you have said all this, a third party will utter a loud shush, thereby accomplishing your purpose without sacrificing your manners.

Clarity is the politeness of the man of letters.

I don"t know what to say," she whispered. "Normally, I"d advise "thank you," but as I am the one thanking you, a mere "You are a prince among men" would suffice.

I hope you will save me a dance.' 'Of course,' she said ... The other two ladies stood there, utterly still, eyes large and unblinking. It brought to mind a pair of ostriches, actually, and then Marcus realized what was expected of him. 'I hope you will all three save dances for me,' he said politely.

Nobody ever thinks it's nice to see me...But I thank you for lying all the same. ~ Lady Danbury

It was ingrained in me to be gracious.

Never insult anyone by accident.

Never interrupt me when I'm eating a banana.

Not quite so fast, sir, if you please,' she said

Ma vie est un désastre, mais personne ne le voit car je suis très poli : je souris tout le temps. Je souris parce que je pense que si l'on cache sa souffrance elle disparaît. Et dans un sens, c'est vrai : elle est invisible donc elle n'existe pas, puisque nous vivons dans le monde du visible, du vérifiable, du matériel. Ma douleur n'est pas matérielle ; elle est occultée. Je suis un négationniste de moi-même

Îmi place ironia f?r? cinism, luciditatea f?r? nihilism, via?a dulce f?r? culpabilitate, polite?ea f?r? ipocrizie, timiditatea f?r? afectare, generozitatea f?r? poman?, fericirea f?r? plictis, lacrimile f?r? motiv.

Politeness is the hallmark of the gentleman and the gentlewoman. No single, positive characteristic

it takes no more time to be polite to every one than it does to be rude.

Humor is the politeness of despair.

We are against politeness as a substitute for the truth because that politeness kills. Politeness and diplomacy are responsible for more suffering and death than all the crimes of passion in history. Fuck politeness. Fuck diplomacy. Tell the truth.

There is a worldwide longing for civility.

Esme Fong glanced at her watch and rose. "I only stopped by to say hello," she explained. "I really must be going." All three men stood. Norm bussed her cheek. "Take care, Esme, okay? I'll see you tomorrow morning.