The idea that people can behave naturally, without resorting to an artificial code tacitly agreed upon by their society, is as silly… — Judith Martin Accepted Copy Share Image
GENTLE READER: You, sir, are an anarchist, and Miss Manners is frightened to have anything to do with you. It is true… — Judith Martin Accepted Copy Share Image
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry, but I can’t.” “I’d love to, but I’m afraid it’s impossible.” “Unfortunately, I can’t, but I hope you… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
A young lady is a female child who has just done something dreadful. — Judith Martin Children Copy Share Image
[after the death of a loved one] It is when there is nothing more to be done that the reality of the… — Judith Martin Death Copy Share Image
“How do you do?” depending on the formality of the occasion, and whether you can count on the other person to understand… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
For email, the old postcard rule applies. Nobody else is supposed to read your postcards, but you'd be a fool if you… — Judith Martin Email Copy Share Image
What we have come to, through a combination of popular psychology and expanding technology, is a presumption that all our thoughts and… — Judith Martin Combination Copy Share Image
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 Acceptable Copy Share Image
Nowadays, you form your beliefs to fit your behavior, not the other way around. — Judith Martin Behavior Copy Share Image
“Conversation, which is supposed to be a two-way street, is treated by many people as if it were a divided highway. They… — Judith Martin Communication Copy Share Image
Miss Manners herself, while never rude, is given to pulling a fast pinch in the way of a handshake on those who… — Judith Martin Believe Copy Share Image
If written directions alone would suffice, libraries wouldn't need to have the rest of the universities attached. — Judith Martin Library Copy Share Image
The mistake people keep making is that if they find a wonderful new tool, like email, they have to give up all… — Judith Martin Added Copy Share Image
Etiquette is about all of human social behavior. Behavior is regulated by law when etiquette breaks down or when the stakes are… — Judith Martin Behavior Copy Share Image
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 Children Copy Share Image
She only maintains that it is possible, under some circumstances, for a lady to murder her husband; but that a woman who… — Judith Martin Ankles Copy Share Image
“DEAR MISS MANNERS: When does a gentleman offer his arm to a lady as they are walking down the street together? GENTLE… — Judith Martin Books Copy Share Image
One reason that the task of inventing manners is so difficult is that etiquette is folk custom, and people have emotional ties… — Judith Martin Being different Copy Share Image
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 Accepted Copy Share Image
We have the reverse of the Puritan work ethic in America now. No one ever becomes a star by plugging along year… — Judith Martin America Copy Share Image
When politeness is used to show up other people, it is reclassified as rudeness. Thus it is technically impossible to be too… — Judith Martin Impossible Copy Share Image
It is one of Miss Manners's great discoveries that one needn't contradict others in order to set them straight. — Judith Martin Discovery Copy Share Image
![“[after the death of a loved one] It is when…” quote by Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cd8/judith-martin-1927_death_after-the-death-of-a-loved-one-it-is-whe_962854.jpg)
