Quotes About Manners

I describe not men, but manners; not an individual, but a species.

Johnson was not impressed. He conceded that the letters might have made a 'very pretty' book (the faintest of faint praise), then commented, stingingly, that they 'teach the morals of a whore, and the manners of a dancing master'. 8 Here, as in the famous letter and the Dictionary's entry under 'patron', Chesterfield's errors are more lastingly preserved than any of his achievements. There

A man who pretends to understand women is bad manners. For him to really to understand them is bad morals.

I hope i shall never hav so much reputashun that i shan't feel obliged to be alwus civil.

Thare iz this mutch kan be sed in favour ov good-breeding, it iz the only thing that kan make a phool endurable.

Giv every one you meet, my boy, the time ov day and halff the road, and if that dont make him civil dont waste enny more fragrance on the cuss.

When the second act was over Countess Bezukhova rose, turned to the Rostovs' box—her whole bosom completely exposed—beckoned the old count with a gloved finger, and paying no attention to those who had entered her box, began talking to him with an amiable smile.

But she immediately turned away to Princess Marya Borisovna and never once glanced at him until he got up to leave; then she looked at him, but obviously only because it was impolite not to look at a man when he was bowing to you.

Todo se hacía con las manos limpias, con camisas planchadas, con palabras francesas y, sobre todo, en la más alta sociedad, es decir, con la aquiescencia de las personas más influyentes.

I hear that you have just killed a bear," said Kitty, vainly trying to put her fork into a recalcitrant mush- room which kept flying about on the plate

A revolution is always distinguished by impoliteness, probably because the ruling classes did not take the trouble in good season to teach the people fine manners.

Anyone can be a barbarian; it requires a terrible effort to remain a civilized man.

I became so at ease with her that for one moment I forgot all etiquette

During her childhood, Jane had been "placed out," the term for children from middle-income families who were sent to live with members of the nobility, or the offspring of an aristocrat who were sent to the palace to learn the manners and customs of royalty, to better cement the family's social connections and pave the way for a spectacular marriage.

Mallaby Road, Harrow, as the Saint discovered, was one of those jolly roads in which ladies and gentlemen live. Lords and ladies may be found in such places as Mayfair, Monte Carlo, and St Moritz; men and women may be found almost anywhere; but Ladies and Gentlemen blossom in their full beauty only in such places as Mallaby Road

Punctuality is the politeness of princes'?

Quentin looked at Plum. "After you," she said. "Ladies first." "Age before beauty." "P's before Q's.

It takes just as much energy to be an asshole as it does to be kind.

The modern habit of doing ceremonial things unceremoniously is no proof of humility; rather it proves the offender's inability to forget himself in the rite, and his readiness to spoil for every one else the proper pleasure of ritual.

Curtsy while you're thinking what to say. It saves time.

It isn't etiquette to cut anyone you've been introduced to. Remove the joint!

I don't think..." then you shouldn't talk, said the Hatter.

Whatever happened to courtesy? What can be so urgent that you have to look down at your phone in the middle of a dinner conversation with people who matter to you? You can't wait five minutes before staring at your phone?

I'm not one of those people who believes in going endlessly around finger wagging and ticking people off for occasional colourful use of language.