It's impossible to expect polite behavior from people…
“It's impossible to expect polite behavior from people who've never witnessed it.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
People who have never seen politeness cannot be expected to behave politely themselves.
In simple terms: Politeness must be modeled to be learned.
Model courteous behavior to encourage it.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- schools
- family
- workplace
- online communities
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we foster politeness in uncivil environments?
- What role does leadership play in modeling behavior?
Politeness can be taught, but resistance may arise.