Quotes About Courtesy

No young woman of good breeding should show exclusive partiality to one partner all night.

If you can't be kind, at least be vague.

However, if you accept the actual invitation, no other appointment—unless with a surgeon or an undertaker—can take precedence.

Miss Manners hereby absolves everyone from feeling any embarrassment deliberately imposed by others.

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

Miss Manners has always believed that people who do not acknowledge presents are annoyed at receiving them, and she respects that preference.

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

How do you do?" depending on the formality of the occasion, and whether you can count on the other person to understand that the answer to "How do you do?" is "How do you do?" even though that makes two questions in a row. (Etiquette opposes any declaration of being pleased to meet someone on the cynical grounds that it may not turn out to be a pleasure.) The

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

Any attempt to explain that they are undecided, rather than declining, should be brushed aside with the explanation that although you need to plan now, you understand that they are not in a position to accept and you wouldn't dream of pushing them.

Getting children to say 'Please' and 'Thank you,' directly and in writing, is one of the chief tasks of child-rearing. It is a simple matter, requiring about ten years of contant vigilance, but those who give up on it might as well—and generally do—concede failure on the entire enterprise of civilizing their young.

Yes, indeed. "Good morning" is an opener, and "Good day" is a closer.

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.

But I do know," he continued, "how to salvage an evening for a girl in a party dress." He stood up, bowed. Held out his hand. "May I have this dance?" "Here?

Clarity is the politeness of the man of letters.

Be modest! It is the kind of pride least likely to offend.

Am Ausgang des Universums musste ein Schild stehen: Bitte verlassen Sie den Raum so, wie sie ihn vorfinden möchten.

Um, I forgot what that means, but madlob!

A gentleman would've risen when a lady entered the room.' I paused by the seat but did not sit down. 'Well, when one comes in I'll make sure I stir myself.' Ouch! I walked into that one. A point to him.

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'm a third son. Perpetually short of funds, I'm afraid.' 'Ha! You're as plump in the pocket as at least three earls,' Lady Danbury said ... Colin smiled blandly. 'Isn't it considered impolite to talk about money in mixed company?' Lady Danbury let out a noise that was either a wheeze or a giggle - Colin wasn't sure which - then said, 'It's always impolite to talk about money, mixed company or no

It was here that Sir Walter Raleigh laid his cloak upon the ground so that Queen Elizabeth would not have to dirty her slippers in a puddle.

She quirked a smile. "Does he beg your pardon so very often?" "Not nearly as much as he should.