of the growth of self-restraint. A starting point for…
““of the growth of self-restraint. A starting point for Elias’s analysis was medieval treatises on polite manners such as the book On Civility in Children by the Renaissance scholar Erasmus. In the 16th century, Europeans’ everyday social behavior was beyond gross. It was a social world in which books on good etiquette had to advise people not to blow their noses on the tablecloth nor to snort or smack their lips while eating. People ate with their hands, the fork being a strange luxury. They blew their noses without the aid of a handkerchief or tissues. They performed many bodily functions in public. Their sensibility toward the pain of others was minimal. Public executions were common, often preceded by torture or dismemberment. People behaved with unthinking cruelty toward animals.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote describes how medieval and early modern European etiquette was crude, with public bodily functions and low sensitivity to others' suffering, illustrating a historical lack of self‑restraint.
In simple terms: Early Europeans had crude manners and little empathy.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how cultural norms evolve.
Themes
history
etiquette
human behavior
empathy
cruelty
Mood
reflective
critical
historical
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- academic study
- museum exhibit
- historical reenactment
- modern etiquette training
Key Concepts
social norms
self‑restraint
public decency
animal welfare
Questions to Reflect On
- What etiquette rules have we inherited from the past?
- How can we foster greater empathy today?
A Different Perspective
Modern societies still struggle with public decorum and empathy gaps.