Almost every man we meet requires some civility; requires to be humored; - he has some fame, some talent, some whim of religion or philanthropy in his head that is not to be questioned, and which spoils all conversation with him. But a friend is a sane man who exercises not my ingenuity, but me.
It is commonly observed, that when two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather; they are in haste to tell each other, what each must already know, that it is hot or cold, bright or cloudy, windy or calm.
That roguish and cheerful vice, politeness.
You have to live with the people in hypocrisy for them to stay happy with you.
The most familiar and intimate habitudes, connections, friendships, require a degree of good-breeding both to preserve and cement them.
A party is a slightly artificial event where one learns the rudiments of human behavior at its most admirable: speaking when spoken to, looking somebody in the eye, shaking hands and being friendly under duress.
In our interactions with people, a benevolent hypocrisy is frequently required--acting as though we do not see through the motivesof their actions.
I imagine how cool it would be if all small talk wasn't lies.
Remember, man does not live on bread alone: sometimes he needs a little buttering up.
Politeness smooths wrinkles.
When Jennie, mother of Winston Churchill invited playwright George Bernard Shaw to lunch, he telegraphed: "Certainly not. What have I done to provoke such an attack on my well-known habits?" She replied, "Know nothing of your habits; hope they are better than your manners."
He was so generally civil, that nobody thanked him for it.
I am always saying "Glad to've met you" to somebody I'm not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.
It's my custom to say something flattering to begin with so I shall be excused if I put my foot in it later on.
There is no policy like politeness; and a good manner is the best thing in the world either to get a good name, or to supply the want of it.
There would be no sunshine in society if the born flatterers, I mean the so-called amiable people, did not bring it in with them.
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!
Cecily. This is no time for wearing the shallow mask of manners. When I see a spade I call it a spade. Gwendolen. [Satirically.] I am glad to say that I have never seen a spade. It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely different.
I think the first prerequisite to civilization is an ability to make polite conversation.
It's a very basic, simple idea, isn't it - saying thank you, saying sorry - and in the overcomplicated, over-busy world we live in it is very powerful.
Politeness does not always inspire goodness, equity, complaisance, and gratitude; it gives at least the appearance of these qualities, and makes man appear outwardly, as he should be within.
The cheese and wine party has the form of friendship without the warmth and devotion. It is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en mass, or for making overtures towards more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.
I send thank you notes, not emails, even if I'm staying at a friend's house or something. I'm very old school.
Last week, I had to offer my publisher a bottle that was far too good for him simply because there was nothing between the insulting and the superlative.
There is a time for politeness and there is a time when you are obliged to be rude.
