Quotes About Courtesy

We all share a biology and deep drives, and what we have created -- civilization, courtesy, decency -- is a mesh that comes from those drives and also contains and tames them. Whatever feels good is not necessarily good. But what I learn is whatever is bad is not necessarily alien to me. Or to you.

Riches may enable us to confer favours, but to confer them with propriety and grace requires a something that riches cannot give.

Once a gentleman, and always a gentleman.

Good day, citizeness.

How do you do, ma'am?" said the captain. "I am very glad to see you. I have come a long way to see you.

Good manners and graciousness pave the way for future favors. Bad manners crumble the road.

Don't needle the seamstress.

Cover your mouth when you cough. Never cover it when you smile.

If you must smoke, take your butt outside.

Seu Tomás da bolandeira falava bem, estragava os olhos em cima de jornais e livros, mas não sabia mandar: pedia. Esquisitice um homem remediado ser cortês. Até o povo censurava aquelas maneiras. Mas todos obedeciam a ele. Ah! Quem disse que não obedeciam?

Never start a sentence with the words 'No offense.

Do you mind if I don't smoke?

And in the dark of that room, notorious for the woven patterns of desire it had seen, Ammar ibn Khairan held the woman beloved of the man he'd killed, and offered what small comfort he could. He granted her the courtesy and space of his silence, as she finally permitted herself to weep, mourning the depth of her loss, the appalling disappearance, in an instant, of love in a bitter world.

But language is power. Words do make a difference. They can reinforce stereotypes, cause offense, undermine, hurt, and humiliate. You don't have to wrap everything you say in cotton wool, but you should choose your words carefully. Good communication is about courtesy and kindness as well as clarity and getting your message across.

Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people's bad manners.

Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people's bad manners.

When complimented, a sincere "thank you" is the only response required.

The telegraphic style banishes all the forms of politeness

Miss Ponsonby, his old governess, had once adjured him: When people say "How are you?" the correct answer is "How are YOU?" If you tell them how you are, you show yourself a person of inferior breeding…

Damn it, you've got to be kind. " If you can't be kind, at least be vague.

Sometimes your opinions will be ones they don't like. Sometimes your opinions won't be very nice. However, the worst time to give someone your opinion, is when no one has asked for it.

Respect for others, and a little more common decency'." Is one of the simplest things you can do.

Respect for others, and a little more common decency'." Is one of the simplest things you can teach someone.

It doesn't matter how old you are or where you come from. Manners, kindness, respect and compassion will always be the signs of a good human being.