Quotes About Formality

When she introduces me to her parentsback straightened, hair finally combed, strangled by a tie,should I sit knees together on their 3rd degree sofaand not ask Where's the bathroom?

The telegraphic style banishes all the forms of politeness

There is something exciting when you see people who are very formal talking with each other, and there is a sense that they have chosen to be that way. There is something masked that is more interesting to me than just people who are intent on displaying their uniqueness or whatever.

There is no easy way to ask serious-minded men and women who hold high office, and who have matters of state on their mind, 'Do you mind if I take a quick selfie?'

Seth twisted up his mouth and somewhat sarcastically waved his hand toward the couch and said, "Won't you please sit down, Madam Queen?" "Thank you," Tate said primly.

People use texting and e-mail for everything, but it's not appropriate for somber situations. If you win an Oscar, tweet away, but if you're talking about a death or an illness, you need to use more formal channels. For example: You can promote an employee via e-mail, but you can't fire him. You can ask someone out by e-mail, but you can't break up with her. Happy occasions can be casual. Sad or serious ones require a personal touch.

They ate on in silence, jaws working all down the table with great sobriety, all sitting upright and formal saving the toothless old woman who bent nearsightedly into her plate with smacking gums, a sparse tuft of long white chin hairs wagging and drifting above the food.

Everybody knows 'technically' is the best kind of correct.

The score belongs on the society pages. To preserve the spirit of the occasion, the teams should have played in tuxes or swallowtail coats and corsages. It's not an athletic event anymore, it's a carnival. Mardi Gras with first downs.

Lord Teddie?" she said. "Will you stay for tea?" " Rather! " said the carpet.

How do you do?" said Violet. "How do you do?" said Klaus. "Odo yow!" said Sunny.

His cold politeness, his ceremonious grace, were worse than anything.

Aye, so it is, cried her mother, and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself.

Riley stared at the vest and polo shirt. "Is this necessary?" "Protocol," Wesley said. Riley tugged the shirt over her head and shoved her arms into the vest. "This isn't going to be dangerous, is it? The vest is just a formality, right?" "Right," Emerson said. "There's nothing to worry about." One of the men handed Riley an AR-15 assault rifle. "Just in case," he said.

If someone takes you out, and you're wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt, and they take you to a fancy place and you're unprepared, that's bad.

It is difficult to remember just how formal middle-class life was in the 1930's and '40s. I wore a suit and tie at home from the age of 18. One dressed for breakfast. One lived in a very formal way, and emotions were not paraded. And my childhood was not unusual.

I couldn't bring myself to call him by his first name, that wasn't my upbringing. So I suggested I call him 'Anandji.' He glared at me and said, 'Do I look like a schoolteacher to you?' The next day when I called him 'Dev Saab' he looked around as though he didn't know whom I was addressing.

I find dates, in general, horrific. We have to sit there and ask these questions and pretend to eat a meal, and it just feels so stiff.

The Rolling Stones are constantly changing, but beneath the changes they remain the most formal of rock bands. Their successive releases have been continuous extensions of their approach, not radical redefinitions, as has so often been the case with the Beatles.

When someone dies, it's good to mail a note. Don't send an e-mail. You have to send a card. Everyone should have cards and stamps kicking around. I have some very simple stationery, just nice card stock with my name at the top. When the news is happy, e-mail is fine. You can e-mail congratulations about babies, weddings, anything. But when it's not? If it's a death or other bad news, you have to be more formal.

I find it odd that people will go to a nice restaurant or to the theater in jeans and T-shirts.

I had a hard time calling Laurence Oliver 'Larry.'

Arranging an official dinner in an embassy is a little like writing a script for a play. The prolog is the guest list, often the most difficult part of the whole creative operation.

A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life.