Manners Quotes by Judith Martin

The greater the controversy, the more you need manners.

— Judith Martin

“Miss Manners hereby absolves everyone from feeling any embarrassment deliberately imposed by others.”

— Judith Martin

Manners require showing consideration of all human beings, not just the ones to whom one is close.

— Judith Martin

The underlying principles of manners- respect, fairness, and congeniality.

— Judith Martin

“Miss Manners’ meager arsenal consists only of the withering look, the insistent and repeated request, the cold voice, the report up the…

— Judith Martin

Miss Manners herself, while never rude, is given to pulling a fast pinch in the way of a handshake on those who…

— Judith Martin

People who put slipcovers, doilies, plastic protectors, and cellophane on everything good that they own rarely live to see an occasion so…

— Judith Martin

Whamming someone smaller than oneself in order to teach that person civilized behavior is not within Miss Manners' concept of propriety, much…

— Judith Martin

Charming villains have always had a decided social advantage over well-meaning people who chew with their mouths open.

— Judith Martin

It is one of Miss Manners's great discoveries that one needn't contradict others in order to set them straight.

— Judith Martin

Yes, etiquette is hypocritical. Yes, it does inhibit children - if you're lucky. But the idea that it's elitist and irrelevant is…

— Judith Martin

People think, mistakenly, that etiquette means you have to suppress your differences. On the contray, etiquette is what enables you to deal…

— Judith Martin

I make a distinction between manners and etiquette - manners as the principles, which are eternal and universal, etiquette as the particular…

— Judith Martin

The dinner table is the center for the teaching and practicing not just of table manners but of conversation, consideration, tolerance, family…

— Judith Martin

One reason that the task of inventing manners is so difficult is that etiquette is folk custom, and people have emotional ties…

— Judith Martin

Etiquette is about all of human social behavior. Behavior is regulated by law when etiquette breaks down or when the stakes are…

— Judith Martin

The rationale that etiquette should be eschewed because it fosters inequality does not ring true in a society that openly admits to…

— Judith Martin

Etiquette enables you to resolve conflict without just trading insults. Without etiquette, the irritations in modern life are so abrasive that you…

— Judith Martin

The whole country wants civility. Why don't we have it? It doesn't cost anything. No federal funding, no legislation is involved. One…

— Judith Martin

“Miss Manners corrects only upon request. Then she does it from a distance, with no names attached, and no personal relationship, however…

— Judith Martin

“Miss Manners’ mother always told her to travel either first or third class, but never second, when crossing. (Not crossing class lines,…

— Judith Martin

“One of the major mistakes people make is that they think manners are only the expression of happy ideas. There’s a whole…

— Judith Martin

Shame is the proper reaction when one has purposefully violated the accepted behavior of society. Inflicting it is etiquette's response when its…

— Judith Martin

“DEAR MISS MANNERS: I a tired of being treated like a child. My father says it's because I am a child--I am…

— Judith Martin

“DEAR MISS MANNERS: When does a gentleman offer his arm to a lady as they are walking down the street together? GENTLE…

— Judith Martin

“Relax!” “Don’t go to so much trouble!” “Why don’t you use plastic glasses?” “Take off your jacket!” “Why don’t you use paper…

— Judith Martin

“Miss Manners remembers who should be introduced to whom, but then she also remembers the difference between “who” and “whom.” The formula…

— Judith Martin

Nowadays, we never allow ourselves the convenience of being temporarily unavailable, even to strangers. With telephone and beeper, people subject themselves to…

— Judith Martin

Like language, a code of manners can be used with more or less skill, for laudable or for evil purposes, to express…

— Judith Martin

Nobody believes that the man who says, 'Look, lady, you wanted equality,' to explain why he won't give up his seat to…

— Judith Martin

Etiquette is all human social behavior. If you're a hermit on a mountain, you don't have to worry about etiquette; if somebody…

— Judith Martin

GENTLE READER: You, sir, are an anarchist, and Miss Manners is frightened to have anything to do with you. It is true…

— Judith Martin

. . . women were brought up to have only one set of manners. A woman was either a lady or she…

— Judith Martin

Miss Manners does not mind explaining the finer points of gracious living, but she feels that anyone without the sense to pick…

— Judith Martin

it's no longer socially acceptable to make bigoted statements and racist remarks. Some people are having an awful time with that: 'I…

— Judith Martin

The etiquette of intimacy is very different from the etiquette of formality, but manners are not just something to show off to…

— Judith Martin

“As if etiquette weren’t magnificently capable of being used to make others feel uncomfortable. All right. Miss Manners will give you an…

— Judith Martin

The idea that people can behave naturally, without resorting to an artificial code tacitly agreed upon by their society, is as silly…

— Judith Martin

Indeed, Miss Manners has come to believe that the basic political division in this country is not between liberals and conservatives but…

— Judith Martin

“One can become quite proficient at this amiable patter; the trick is to omit the instructive parts when attending formal dinner parties…

— Judith Martin