Yes, etiquette is hypocritical. Yes, it does inhibit children - if you're lucky. But the idea that it's elitist and irrelevant is like saying language is elitist and irrelevant. — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
Smart people duck when they hear the dread announcement 'I'm going to be perfectly honest with you. — Judith Martin Copy Share
If you put together all the ingredients that naturally attract children - sex, violence, revenge, spectacle and vigorous noise - what you have is… — Judith Martin Copy Share
The one prediction that never comes true is, 'You'll thank me for telling you this. — Judith Martin Copy Share
Chaperons, even in their days of glory, were almost never able to enforce morality; what they did was to force immorality to be discreet.… — Judith Martin Copy Share
Perhaps the greatest rudenesses of our time come not from the callousness of strangers, but from the solicitousness of intimates who believe that their… — Judith Martin Copy Share
We are all entitled to our little harmless habits, but we are not entitled to demand approval for them. — Judith Martin Copy Share
“Lady” is not used before the lady’s first name unless she is the daughter of a duke, marquess or earl; those who come by… — Judith Martin Copy Share
Adorable children are considered to be the general property of the human race. Rude children belong to their mothers. — Judith Martin Copy Share
I have always believed that the key to a happy marriage was the ability to say with a straight face, 'Why, I don't know… — Judith Martin Copy Share
It is, indeed, a trial to maintain the virtue of humility when one can't help being right. — Judith Martin Copy Share
Honesty is a virtue, but not the only one. If you're in a courtroom you need the whole truth and nothing but the truth;… — Judith Martin Copy Share
Society cannot exist without etiquette ... It never has, and until our own century, everybody knew that. — Judith Martin Copy Share
