Quotes About Formality

A writer should be able to express himself easily, naturally, copiously in a form that frees his mind, his energies. Why should he hobble himself with formalities?

The functionaries in the courtyard of the Palace threw open their wooden shutters and settled in for a long day of saying "fuck off in the name of the duke" to all comers.

Good evening, good evening, good evening!' yelled Epitalus. 'Good evening!' And then, as though anyone in the audience might conceivably remain unenlightened as to the quality or time of day: 'Good evening!' The string quintet ceased its humming and twanging

Standing, standing, standing - why do I have to stand all the time? That is the main characteristic of social Washington.

I've nothing against the Queen personally: I had lunch at the Palace once upon a time.

So this was all you got:the zooty sideburns and masturbator's pallor of an old Ted in a black suit and the secular obsequies.

JUDGE LITTLEFIELD: What's your name, Bailiff?! BAILIFF: Julius of Outer Mongolia.

EL-FAYOUMY: May I approach you? JUDGE LITTLEFIELD: The bench, not me!

It is important to say sir at these moments. And if they ever call you by your first-middle-last name, you better watch out. I'm telling you.

In French, as in other romance languages, speakers are forced to choose whether they'll address someone using the respectful form (vous) or the familiar form (tu). Even English, which doesn't embed status into verb conjugations, embeds it elsewhere. Until recently, Americans addressed strangers and superiors using title plus last name (Mrs. Smith, Dr. Jones), whereas intimates and subordinates were called by first name.

If you've ever felt a flash of distaste when a salesperson called you by first name without being invited to do so, or if you felt a pang of awkwardness when an older person you have long revered asked you to call him by first name, then you have experienced the activation of some of the modules that comprise the Authority/subversion foundation.

Paperwork is the religion of the Civil Service. I can just imagine Sir Humphrey Appleby on his deathbed, surround by wills and insurance claim forms, looking up and saying, 'I cannot go yet, God, I haven't done the paperwork.

Pardon me, Highness, a women waits whithout." "Whithout what?

fussy, over-formalized way

They discovered that each of them had relied on the others for proper letters of introduction. In a day when society observed infinitely stricter rules than today, a lack of proper letters of introduction could be disastrous, as theirs now was.

But one does not dress for private company as for a public ball. 'Tis perhaps only negligence.

But one does not dress for private company as for a public ball.

I met my husband at the rehearsal of a play. We were introduced, and he shook my hand without looking at me and said perfunctorily, 'Pleased to meet you.'

We don't have butlers. Obviously we have people who look after the houses, but I try not to run things formally.

There is something about a bureaucrat that does not like a poem.

In front of the officers, in front of Captain Phasma especially, they always used their appropriate designations

The clear, unmistakable sign of a bureaucrat is somebody who worries about whether he has a window.

People ask, 'Should I call you Sir Hopkins?' But I say, 'No. Call me Tony,' because it's too much of a lift-up.

She had never liked people who spoke too familiarly upon first meeting. There ought to be a little bit more formality.