People think, mistakenly, that etiquette means you have to suppress your differences. On the contray, etiquette is what enables you to deal… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
The etiquette question that troubles so many fastidious people New Year's Day is: How am I ever going to face those people… — Judith Martin Etiquette Copy Share Image
A wedding invitation is sent by people who have been saying, "Do we have to ask them?" to people whose first response… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
Most people who work at home find they do not have the benefit of receptionists who serve as personal guards — Judith Martin Home Copy Share Image
The family dinner table is the cornerstone of civilization and those who 'graze' from refrigerators or in front of the television sets… — Judith Martin Civilization Copy Share Image
Chaperons, even in their days of glory, were almost never able to enforce morality; what they did was to force immorality to… — Judith Martin 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 Copy Share Image
It is wrong to wear diamonds before luncheon, except on one’s marriage rings. Before, after, and during breakfast, luncheon and dinner, it… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
Screening telephone calls with a receptionist or the humbler answering machine is not a dishonorable thing to do. The warmest people in… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
many of the guests will eventually leave the table to watch football on television, which would be a rudeness at any other… — Judith Martin Football Copy Share Image
What restricts the use of the word 'lady' among the courteous is that it is intended to set a woman apart from… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
Like language, a code of manners can be used with more or less skill, for laudable or for evil purposes, to express… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
“It was generally believed that what people needed to get along was love and communication skills. Even business colleagues were thought to… — Judith Martin Business Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
People say when you're in love, you don't need etiquette. Well, you need it then more than anything. Or they say, "At… — Judith Martin Anxiety Copy Share Image
I am a traditionalist, and I'm an innovator. Most of what I do is to weigh change and legislate to the best… — Judith Martin Ability 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 Copy Share Image
. . . women were brought up to have only one set of manners. A woman was either a lady or she… — Judith Martin Boys Copy Share Image
Miss Manners does not mind explaining the finer points of gracious living, but she feels that anyone without the sense to pick… — Judith Martin 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 Copy Share Image
One of the big no-nos in cyberspace is that you do not go into a social activity, a chat group or something… — Judith Martin 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 Copy Share Image
It has always puzzled me, in my business, that people think they have to answer questions, no matter how disagreeable or dangerous,… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
It doesn't matter whether the bride or the bridegroom writes the letters of thanks for wedding presents provided that these go out… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
The etiquette of intimacy is very different from the etiquette of formality, but manners are not just something to show off to… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
“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 Etiquette Copy Share Image
Visiting the sick is supposed to exhibit such great virtue that there are some people determined to do it whether the sick… — Judith Martin Determined Copy Share Image
Perhaps the greatest rudenesses of our time come not from the callousness of strangers, but from the solicitousness of intimates who believe… — Judith Martin Behavior Copy Share Image
The idea that people can behave naturally, without resorting to an artificial code tacitly agreed upon by their society, is as silly… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
Indeed, Miss Manners has come to believe that the basic political division in this country is not between liberals and conservatives but… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
“College women are typically given to declaring for one or the other (in my day, for marriage; now, generally, for careers), and… — Judith Martin College 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
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, you may wear white shoes. Not before and not after. As a command, the White Shoe… — Judith Martin Absolutes Copy Share Image
“Conversation consists of developing and playing with ideas by juxtaposing the accumulated conclusions of two or more people and then improvising on… — Judith Martin Communication Copy Share Image
To sacrifice the principles of manners, which require compassion and respect, and bat people over the head with their ignorance of etiquette… — Judith Martin Argument Copy Share Image
The challenge of manners is not so much to be nice to someone whose favor and/or person you covet (although more people… — Judith Martin Copy Share Image
