top of page
Manners Quotes


"Prithee don't screw your wit beyond the compass of good manners."


"You can't be truly rude until you understand good manners."


"The test of good manners is to be patient with the bad ones."


"He combines the manners of a Marquis with the morals of a Methodist."


"A true gentlemen is one who is never unintentionally rude."


"Manners are especially the need of the plain. The pretty can get away with anything."



"To be always thinking about your manners is not the way to make them good; the very perfection of manners is not to think about yourself."


"Good manners: The noise you don't make when you're eating soup."


"The test of good manners is to be able to put up pleasantly with bad ones."


"Your manners are critical for both making a positive first impression and creating success in life, love, and business."


"Using titles such as Mr., Mrs., Miss, Dr., etc. demonstrates respect. In previous generations, it was a social necessity and simply good manners. One would consider you rude and uncultured if you were so presumptuous as to go straight to a "first name basis. First names can imply an intimacy that does not exist and it may offend a new person until they know you better. Be wary of making assumptions."


"I was raised in an era when part of respecting your elders was to call them by Mr. or Mrs. When my children were growing up, an occasional child would call me Susan. It was jarring, felt disrespectful, and I did not like it. We reached a mutual agreement and their friends began calling me Ms. Susan. Perhaps this is more prevalent in the South, however, your awareness and consideration can help prevent social missteps."


"But I was also told to hold doors for women and children, to shake hands with a firm grip, to remember people's names, and to always give the customer a little more than expected."


"Only fools imply compliments. The wise man comes right out with it, point-blank. Imply criticism--unless the criticized isn't within earshot."


"Graciously Accepting a Compliment. How many times have you offered someone a sincere compliment only to have it thrown back in your face as if your assessment were wrong? How did you feel? Women are notorious for this social misstep and poor maneuver. Why do they do it? Rejecting a compliment makes the compliment-giver feel as though they should have said nothing."
bottom of page