Politeness, n. The most acceptable hypocrisy¹.

Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The Devil's Dictionary

That's the secret of entertaining. You make your guests feel welcome and at home. If you do that honestly, the rest takes care of itself.

Barbara Hall, Northern Exposure, Northern Hospitality, 1994

Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct; they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them.

Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot.

Clarence Thomas (1948 - )

It is wise to apply the oil of refined politeness to the mechanisms² of friendship.

Colette (1873 - 1954), The Pure and the Impure³, 1932

Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.

Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

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.

George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950), "You Never Can Tell" (1898), act I

There is hardly any personal defect which an agreeable manner might not gradually reconcile one to.

Jane Austen (1775 - 1817), Persuasion⁴, 1818

One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness.

Josh Billings (1818 - 1885)

Doesn't matter what a person's name is as long as he behaves himself.

L. M. Montgomery (1874 - 1942), Anne of Green Gables, 1908

To have respect for ourselves guides our morals; and to have a deference⁵ for others governs our manners.

Lawrence Sterne (1713 - 1768)

Don't reserve your best behavior for special occasions. You can't have two sets of manners, two social codes - one for those you admire and want to impress, another for those whom you consider unimportant. You must be the same to all people.

Lillian Eichler Watson

If you aren’t going to say something directly to someone’s face, than don’t use online as an opportunity to say it. It is this sense of bravery that people get when they are anonymous⁶ that gives the blogosphere a bad reputation.

Mena Trott, Times Online, 12-06-06

Associate with well-mannered persons and your manners will improve. Run around with decent folk and your own decent instincts will be strengthened.

Stanley Walker

Politeness and consideration for others is like investing pennies and getting dollars back.

Thomas Sowell (1930 - ), Creators Syndicate

Manners maketh man.

William of Wykeham (1324 - 1404), Motto of Winchester College and New College, Oxford