Discarded Quote by Amy Vanderbilt
“I am a journalist in the field of etiquette. I try to find out what the most genteel people regularly do, what traditions they have discarded, what compromises they have made.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Etiquette in Society, Business, and Politics (1922) by Amy Vanderbilt
The journalist investigates elite social habits to understand what refined behavior looks like and how it evolves over time
In simple terms: I study refined people to learn their customs and compromises
Key Takeaway
Explore how etiquette changes with society
Themes
etiquette
social norms
history
Mood
inquisitive
analytical
Type
historical
observational
When to use this quote
- social research
- historical analysis
- journalistic inquiry
Key Concepts
Cultural evolution
behavioral observation
social hierarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “genteel” mean today?
- How have traditions been adapted or discarded?
A Different Perspective
Modern contexts may differ from historical etiquette
