Quotes About Manners

Manners: The Gift of a Gracious

Lady Beatrice grunted and turned to Emma. "Here is your escort, dear." She shook the elderly man's arm and shouted in his ear, "This is Miss Peterson, Mr. Maxwell. You'll be taking her in to dinner." "What? Thinner?" Mr. Maxwell was so bent over, his face was only inches above Emma's bosom. "Sacrilege! Don't take an ounce off 'em, my dear." Emma stepped back before a bit of drool hit her bodice.

Mr. Humphrey's bluster died under the duchess's unwavering gaze. His nose twitched. "Yes, well, indeed. It is all highly irregular." Her grace smiled gently. "Duchesses can be 'highly irregular,' Mr. Humphrey. It's one of the perks of the position.

My father told me to dress to reflect the respect you have for the people around you. I've never forgotten that.

I launched into my speech, it took me a few seconds to realize that the only one listening was max (the dog) but at least he had the good manners to stop chewing the toilet brush and pay attention.

A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.

No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders.

Nothing is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all persons employed in places of power and trust must be men of unexceptionable characters.

There is something...more important in life than punctuality, and that is decorum.

Conscience is thoroughly well bred and soon leaves off talking to those who do not wish to hear it.

Questioning is not the mode of conversation among gentlemen.

Here closed in death th' attentive eyesThat saw the manners in the face.

Most vices may be committed very genteelly: a man may debauch his friend's wife genteelly: he may cheat at cards genteelly.

This was a good dinner enough, to be sure, but it was not a dinner to ask a man to.

I saw the girl of the house, being very pretty, go into a chamber, and I went in after her and kissed her.

Curiosity, however sharp, must wait on dignity.

Orsini did not wait for compliments. Reserve is best countered by reserve.

The most frustrating thing in life is having a conversation with someone who never looks up from their cell phone. How did we get here?

The thrill of telling her true feelings without considering good manners or the propriety of what she had to say was intoxicating.

Elegance is like manners," he used to say. "You can't be polite only on Wednesday or Thursday. If you are elegant, you should be every day of the week. If you are not, then it's another matter.

Spencer." Mrs. Hastings leaned across the restaurant table. "Don't touch the bread. It's rude to start eating before everyone is seated.

Can I fetch you something, madam? A cup of tea?' In the old days she'd have been 'miss' and he'd have offered her a cocktail.

The only question I ever ask any woman is, 'what time is your husband coming home?'

Etiquette can be at the same time a means of approaching people and of staying clear of them.