94 Manners Quotes

We don't bother much about dress and manners in England, because as a nation we don't dress well and we've no manners.

Her air, her manners, all who saw admir'd; Courteous though coy, and gentle though retir'd; The joy of youth and health her eyes display'd, And ease of heart her every look convey'd.

If you wish to appear agreeable in society, you must consent to be taught many things which you know already.

Pride, ill nature, and want of sense, are the three great sources of ill manners.

A nice man is a man of nasty ideas.

Politeness is the flower of humanity.

Nobody can be as agreeable as an uninvited guest.

Nothing is as irritating as the fellow who chats pleasantly while he's overcharging you.

I have a respect for manners as such, they are a way of dealing with people you don't agree with or like.

The Japanese have perfected good manners and made them indistinguishable from rudeness.

Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy.

Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage.

'Tis well enough for a servant to be bred at an University. But the education is a little too pedantic for a gentleman.

I have no small talk and Peel has no manners.

That sort of half sigh, which, accompanied by two or three slight nods of the head, is pity's small change in general society.

Manners are of more importance than laws... Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarize or refine us, by a constant, steady, uniform, insensible operation like that of the air we breathe in.

A good many causes tend to make good masters and mistresses quite as rare as good servants.... The large and rapid fortunes by which vulgar and ignorant people become possessed of splendid houses, splendidly furnished, do not, of course, give them the feelings and manners of gentle folks, or in any way really raise them above the servants they employ, who are quite aware of this fact, and that the possession of wealth is literally the only superiority their employers have over them.

I don't want to talk grammar, I want to talk like a lady.

You can prick your finger, just don't finger your prick.

Eutrapelia. 'A happy and gracious flexibility,' Pericles calls this quality of the Athenians...lucidity of thought, clearness and propriety of language, freedom from prejudice and freedom from stiffness, openness of mind, amiability of manners.

Whoever is open, loyal, true; of humane and affable demeanour; honourable himself, and in his judgement of others; faithful to his word as to law, and faithful alike to God and man....such a man is a true gentleman.

To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid; you must also be well-mannered.

There are times when you have to choose between being a human and having good taste.

People who ask 'Can I ask you a question?' Didn't really give me a choice, did you there, buddy?

Conversation is but carving! Give no more to every guest Than he's able to digest. Give him always of the prime, And but little at a time. Carve to all but just enough, Let them neither starve nor stuff, And that you may have your due, Let your neighbor carve for you.

Good manners is the art of making those people easy with whom we converse. Whoever makes the fewest persons uneasy is the best bred in the company.

There is always a best way of doing everything, if it be to boil an egg. Manners are the happy ways of doing things; each once a stroke of genius or of love, - now repeated and hardened into usage. They form at last a rich varnish, with which the routine of life is washed, and its details adorned.

I'm being ironic. Don't interrupt a man in the midst of being ironic, it's not polite.

Manner is all in all, whate'er is writ, The substitute for genius, sense, and wit.

A moral, sensible, and well-bred man Will not affront me, and no other can.

The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any

And surely one of the best rules in conversation is, never to say a thing which any of the company can reasonably wish had been left unsaid:

Manners easily and rapidly mature into morals.

If the young leddy was so careless o' insulting other folks' ancestors, it proves she has nane o' her ain; for them that has china plates themsel's is the maist careful no to break the china plates of others.

A man's manners are a mirror in which he shows his portrait.

'Dear Miss Manners: How is a hat correctly worn?

Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world, - though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst, - the cant of criticism is the most tormenting!

Hail, ye small, sweet courtesies of life! for smooth do ye make the road of it.

Courtesy is a science of the highest importance. It is, like grace and beauty in the body, which charm at first sight, and lead on to further intimacy and friendship, opening a door that we may derive instruction from the example of others, and at the same time enabling us to benefit them by our example, if there be anything in our character worthy of imitation.

A great reserve and severity of manners are necessary for the command of those who are older than ourselves.

It is not enough to be wrong, one must also be polite.

It is a good rule in life never to apologize. The right sort of people do not want apologies, and the wrong sort take a mean advantage of them.

After dinner at a friends house, Diana said, 'Do you have a pair of Marigolds?' I'll do the washing up. The host convinced her there was no need!

A child should always say what's true And speak when he is spoken to, And behave mannerly at table; At least as far as he is able.