Quotes & Sayings About Manners Politeness

It seems to me that the spirit of politeness is a certain attention in causing that, by our words and by our manners, others may be content with us and with themselves. — Jean De La Bruyere

In society, the object of conversation is of course entertainment and improvement, and it must, therefore, be adapted to the circle in which it is carried on, and must be neither too high nor too deep for the party at large, so that every one may contribute his share, just as pleasure, and to the best of his ability — Arthur Martine

Sydney tried - sometimes he really tried - but his default mindset didn't have those kinds of manners. What he really meant was more like "Jacob, get over here or I'll freeze your underwear." Something like that. — Rebecca McKinsey

E-mail has some magical ability to turn off the politeness gene in a human being. — Jeff Bezos

Politeness does not prevent a person from feeling angry or upset or hurt. What it does is delay the expression of the feeling. Manners counteract the rush to judgement. They allow a few moments for more information to emerge, for the ire to reduce slightly before doing anything decisive. The delay built into politeness allows you time to determine the true facts. It provides space to understand the issue behind the anger. If you knew more, you might not be so irate. — The School Of Life

All my life I have placed great store in civility and good manners, practices I find scarce among the often hard-edged, badly socialized scientists with whom I associate. Tone of voice means a great deal to me in the course of debate. I despise the arrogance and doting self-regard so frequently found among the very bright. — Edward O. Wilson

A gentleman is someone who does not what he wants to do, but what he should do. — Haruki Murakami

This was our last night. We only had one curtain call, Bree. And I thought they were going to give us a standing ovation, but no-o-o-. Do you know why half the audience stood up?"
"To get a head start on the traffic," Bree said.
"To get a head start on the traffic," Antonia agreed in indignation. "I mean, here we are, dancing and singing our little guts out, and all those folks want to do is get to bed early. I ask you, whatever happened to common courtesy? Whatever happened to decent manners? Doesn't anyone care about craft anymore? And on top of that, it's not even nice. — Mary Stanton

She already told me that she doesn't have to be nice, so why do I? Because my mother raised me right? That's why wolves always win. Because the rest of us mind our manners and get devoured for our efforts. — Sheryl J. Anderson

The wisest and best are repulsive, if they are characterized by repulsive manners. Politeness is an easy virtue, costs little, and has great purchasing power. — Amos Bronson Alcott

The trouble with good manners is that people are persuaded that you are all right, require no protection, are perfectly capable of looking after yourself. — Anita Brookner

Politeness, however, acts the lady's maid to our thoughts; and they are washed, dressed, curled, rouged, and perfumed, before they are presented to the public ... — Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Nine times out of 10, the most charming thing to say in any given situation will be the exact opposite of what one really feels. — Geoff Dyer

The company of women of fashion will improve your manners, though not your understanding; and that complaisance and politeness, which are so useful in men's company, can only be acquired in women's. — Lord Chesterfield

I'm making a list
I'm making a list of things I must say
For politeness,
And goodness and kindness and gentleness
Sweetness and rightness:
Hello
Pardon me
How are you?
Excuse me
Bless you
May I?
Thank you
Goodbye
If you know some that I've forgot,
Please stick them in you eye! — Shel Silverstein

She had the comfort of appearing very polite, while feeling very cross. — Jane Austen

Good manners are appreciated as much as bad manners are abhorred. — Bryant McGill

A polite enemy is just as difficult to discredit, as a rude friend is to protect. — Bryant McGill

A dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot. — Robert A. Heinlein

Politeness is, you know, is a wonderful thing. Manners are in fact, really important thing. But remember, Jesus didn't have many manners as we now know. — Bono

Politeness is only one half good manners and the other half good lying. — Mary Wilson Little

As a Texan, I say ma'm and sir to my age contemporaries and open doors for anyone that I can. This goes for men, too, though it is appreciated when they beat me to it and disappointing when they don't. — Tiffany Madison

Charlestonians had a particularly vicious and cunning game, developed after the War. They treated outsiders with so much graciousness and consideration that their politeness became a weapon. 'Visitors end up feeling as if they're wearing shoes for the first time in their lives. It's said that only the strongest ever recover from the experience. The Chinese never developed a torture to match it, although they're a very subtle people. — Alexandra Ripley

Why is it that those who are the most concerned with manners rarely have any themselves? — Heidi Schulz

He accomplished wonders of diplomacy on the principle, never give way, and never give offense. — Barbara W. Tuchman

Preserve me from such cordiality! It is like handling briar-roses and may-blossoms - bright enough to the eye, and outwardly soft to the touch, but you know there are thorns beneath, and every now and then you feel them too; and perhaps resent the injury by crushing them in till you have destroyed their power, though somewhat to the detriment of your own fingers. — Anne Bronte

Politeness induces morality. Serenity of manners requires serenity of mind. — Julia Ward Howe

I have noticed several times that people don't think I know how to behave even when I'm trying as hard as I can. — Astrid Lindgren

Manners," I say. "It ain't polite to taste people. Shit. — Nenia Campbell

Manners or etiquette ('accessibility, affability, politeness, refinement, propriety, courtesy, and ingratiating and captivating behavior') call for no large measure of moral determination and cannot, therefore, be reckoned as virtues. Even though manners are no virtues, they are a means of developing virtue ... The more we refine the crude elements in our nature, the more we improve our humanity and the more capable it grows of feeling the driving force of virtuous principles. — Immanuel Kant

I remember manners, that's when people are scared to make other persons mad. — Emma Donoghue

That survival instinct, that will to live, that need to get back to life again, is more powerful than any consideration of taste, decency, politeness, manners, civility. Anything. It's such a powerful force. — Danny Boyle

I suggest he starts introducing himself as "Lessman"; he is classless, tactless, and mannerless. — Natalya Vorobyova

Civility means a great deal more than just being nice to one another. It is complex and encompasses learning how to connect successfully and live well with others, developing thoughtfulness, and fostering effective self-expression and communication. Civility includes courtesy, politeness, mutual respect, fairness, good manners, as well as a matter of good health. Taking an active interest in the well-being of our community and concern for the health of our society is also involved in civility. — P. M. Forni

I smiled back, the importance of manners, my mother always said, is inversely related to how inclined one is to use them, or, in other words, sometimes politeness is all that stands between oneself and madness. — Nicole Krauss

For though I was raised Protestant, my true religion is actually civility. Please note that I do not call my faith "politeness." That's part of it, yes, but I say civility because I believe that good manners are essential to the preservation of humanity - one's own and others' - but only to the extent that that civility is honest and reasonable, not merely the mindless handmaiden of propriety. — Kathleen Rooney

Rudeness, abruptness, gory tales of blood and thunder, and coarse language usually show up the greenhorn or counterfeit, and certainly the ill-bred. "The bravest are the tenderest; the gentlest are the daring. — Kenneth W. Estes

The very essence of politeness is to take care that by our words and actions we make other people pleased with us as well as with themselves. — Jean De La Bruyere

There is an old German fable about porcupines who need to huddle together for warmth, but are in danger of hurting each other with their spines. When they find the optimum distance to share each other's warmth without putting each other's eyes out, their state of contrived cooperation is called good manners. Well, those old German fabulists certainly knew a thing or two. When you acknowledge other people politely, the signal goes out, "I'm here. You're there. I'm staying here. You're staying there. Aren't we both glad we sorted that out?" When people don't acknowledge each other politely, the lesson from the porcupine fable is unmistakeable. "Freeze or get stabbed, mate. It's your choice. — Lynne Truss

It is a wise thing to be polite; consequently, it is a stupid thing to be rude. To make enemies by unnecessary and willful incivility, is just as insane a proceeding as to set your house on fire. For politeness is like a counter
an avowedly false coin, with which it is foolish to be stingy. — Arthur Schopenhauer

POLITENESS must carry the true weight of SINCERITY and INTEGRITY for it to be a true act of POLITENESS. — Carew Papritz

I don't believe in texting while dining, sending one-word e-mails in lieu of formal thank-you cards, wearing shorts to the theater, or settling for any of the modern trends that favor comfort over politeness, ease over style. Manners are simply about asking yourself, What's the right thing to do? — Tim Gunn

Politeness requires this thing; decorum that; ceremony has its forms, and fashion its laws, and these must always follow, never the promptings of our own nature. — Henri Rousseau

Politeness [is] a sign of dignity, not subservience. — Theodore Roosevelt

Acceptable hypocrisy is often called politeness. — Shannon L. Alder

Gentleness is the great point to be obtained in the study of manners. — Nathaniel Parker Willis

The natural flow of discourse must be calm and serene; if wit, whim, fun and fire are present, they will not fail to flash brightly along its surface; but they can never constitute the main body of the stream itself. — Arthur Martine

Be polite; write diplomatically; even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of politeness. — Otto Von Bismarck

Politeness is half good manners and half good lying. — Mary Wilson Little

The first rule of etiquette a boy learns when he's about to enter
society is that civility is due to all women. No provocation, no
matter how unjust and rudely delivered, can validate a man who fails
to treat a woman with anything less than utmost courtesy."
The boys hung on his every word. He glanced in her direction.
"I have met some incredibly unpleasant women, and I have never failed
in this duty. But I must admit: your sister may prove my undoing. — Ilona Andrews