--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to have too much courtesy…" description: "\"It is better to have too much courtesy than too little, provided you are not equally courteous to all, for that would be injustice.\" — Baltasar Gracian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/baltasar-gracian-1090_courteous_it-is-better-to-have-too-much-courtesy-t_1775260.jpg" --- # It is better to have too much courtesy than too little… ![“It is better to have too much courtesy than too little, provided you are not equally courteous to all, for that would be injustice.” quote by Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/baltasar-gracian-1090_courteous_it-is-better-to-have-too-much-courtesy-t_1775260.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/baltasar-gracian-1090_courteous_it-is-better-to-have-too-much-courtesy-t_1775260.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/baltasar-gracian-1090_courteous_it-is-better-to-have-too-much-courtesy-t_1775260.jpg) > “It is better to have too much courtesy than too little, provided you are not equally courteous to all, for that would be injustice.” [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It is better to be overly courteous than insufficiently, but not to be equally courteous to everyone, as that would be unjust. **In simple terms:** Excessive courtesy is preferable, but not equal courtesy to all. Key Takeaway Practice selective courtesy. Themes courtesy justice social etiquette Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - formal events - customer service - political negotiations - family gatherings Key Concepts ethics fairness interpersonal relations Questions to Reflect On - When should you with courtesy? - How does unequal courtesy affect fairness? A Different Perspective Uniform courtesy can erase necessary distinctions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ## Related quotes > [Dullness is a courteous fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-mustafa/dullness-is-a-courteous-fear/) [Mohammad MUSTAFA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-mustafa/) > [What restricts the use of the word 'lady' among the courteous is that it is intended to set a woman apart from ordinary humanity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/what-restricts-the-use-of-the-word-lady-among-the-courteous-is-that/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [If you love men and they are unfriendly, look into your love; if you rule men and they are unruly, look into your wisdom;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/if-you-love-men-and-they-are-unfriendly-look-into-your-love-if-you/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [Courtesy is doing that which nothing under the sun makes you do but human kindness. Courtesy springs from the heart; if the mind prompts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/courtesy-is-doing-that-which-nothing-under-the-sun-makes-you-do-but/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [In thy discourse, if thou desire to please; All such is courteous, useful, new, or wittie: Usefulness comes by labour, wit byease; Courtesie grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/in-thy-discourse-if-thou-desire-to-please-all-such-is-courteous/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [“Spread your courtesy across the door posts of everyone you know, but reserve your intimacy with the little trustworthy friends who are going where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/spread-your-courtesy-across-the-door-posts-of-everyone-you-know-but/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Courtesy is the bedrock of social interchange. No matter what you're doing, even if you're fomenting revolution, you can still be courteous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-m-drury/courtesy-is-the-bedrock-of-social-interchange-no-matter-what-you-re/) Joan M. Drury > [My dad was a particularly polite kind of guy, very courteous. So when we got on a bus, he would always encourage me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/my-dad-was-a-particularly-polite-kind-of-guy-very-courteous-so-when/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Courteous men learn courtesy from the discourteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courteous-men-learn-courtesy-from-the-discourteous/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon-sr/if-a-man-be-gracious-and-courteous-to-strangers-it-shows-he-is-a-2/) [Francis Bacon Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon-sr/) > [If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/if-a-man-be-gracious-and-courteous-to-strangers-it-shows-he-is-a/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Really big people are, above everything else, courteous, considerate and generous - not just to some people in some circumstances - but to everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-watson/really-big-people-are-above-everything-else-courteous-considerate-and/) [Thomas J. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-watson/) > [From the loving example of one family a whole State may become loving, and from its courtesies, courteous; while from the ambition and perverseness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/from-the-loving-example-of-one-family-a-whole-state-may-become-loving/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [No one has ever been offended by someone with good manners and courteous behaviour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/no-one-has-ever-been-offended-by-someone-with-good-manners-and/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [God will think about you and behave with you just as you think of His creations and behave with His created persons, so be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farid/god-will-think-about-you-and-behave-with-you-just-as-you-think-of-his/) [Farid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farid/) ## More by Baltasar Gracian > [To be at ease is better than to be at business. Nothing really belongs to us but time, which even he has who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/to-be-at-ease-is-better-than-to-be-at-business-nothing-really-belongs/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [It requires as much to tell the truth as to conceal it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/it-requires-as-much-to-tell-the-truth-as-to-conceal-it/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [There are friendships merely for pleasure, some for the exchange of ideas. Rarest are those friends of one's inmost self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/there-are-friendships-merely-for-pleasure-some-for-the-exchange-of/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [What is not seen is as if it was not. Even the Right does not receive proper consideration if it does not seem right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/what-is-not-seen-is-as-if-it-was-not-even-the-right-does-not-receive/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [What the multitude says, is so, or soon will be so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/what-the-multitude-says-is-so-or-soon-will-be-so/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the other one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/a-synonym-is-a-word-you-use-when-you-can-t-spell-the-other-one/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [It is good to vary in order that you may frustrate the curious, especially those who envy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/it-is-good-to-vary-in-order-that-you-may-frustrate-the-curious/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Hope has a good memory, gratitude a bad one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/hope-has-a-good-memory-gratitude-a-bad-one/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Knowing how to keep a friend is more important than gaining a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/knowing-how-to-keep-a-friend-is-more-important-than-gaining-a-new-one/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Leave your luck while still winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/leave-your-luck-while-still-winning/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Superiority is always detested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/superiority-is-always-detested/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [“We have eyelids but not earlids, for the ears are the portals of learning, and Nature wanted to keep them wide open.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/we-have-eyelids-but-not-earlids-for-the-ears-are-the-portals-of/) [Baltasar Gracián](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [The wise persono would rather see others needing him than thanking him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/the-wise-persono-would-rather-see-others-needing-him-than-thanking-him/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [No one demands more caution than a spy, and when someone has the skeleton key to minds, counter him by leaving the key of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/no-one-demands-more-caution-than-a-spy-and-when-someone-has-the/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Keep the extent of your abilities unknown.The wise man does not allow his knowledge and abilities to be sounded to the bottom, if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/keep-the-extent-of-your-abilities-unknown-the-wise-man-does-not-allow/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) [Explore all 288 Baltasar Gracian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) ## More Courteous quotes > [Dullness is a courteous fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-mustafa/dullness-is-a-courteous-fear/) [Mohammad MUSTAFA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-mustafa/) > [Many men fail because they do not see the importance of being kind and courteous to the men under them. Kindness to everybody always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/many-men-fail-because-they-do-not-see-the-importance-of-being-kind/) [Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/) > [Nothing is gained by not being kind and courteous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/nothing-is-gained-by-not-being-kind-and-courteous/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [Lionel Johnson comes the first to mind, That loved his learning better than mankind, Though courteous to the worst; much falling he Brooded upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/lionel-johnson-comes-the-first-to-mind-that-loved-his-learning-better/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie? I will name you the degrees. The first, the Retort Courteous; the second,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/can-you-nominate-in-order-now-the-degrees-of-the-lie-i-will-name-you/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Don't just show kindness in passing or to be courteous. Show it in depth, show it with passion, and expect nothing in return. Kindness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/don-t-just-show-kindness-in-passing-or-to-be-courteous-show-it-in/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I'm often at odds with my colleagues, but I've managed to get legislation passed which will not even be attempted in other states. Rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-chambers/i-m-often-at-odds-with-my-colleagues-but-i-ve-managed-to-get/) [Ernie Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-chambers/) > [For those who are always courteous and respectful of elders, four things increase: life, beauty, happiness and strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-those-who-are-always-courteous-and-respectful-of-elders-four/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Muddy language is not confined to policies alone. Each of you has seen replies to simple questions in which the meaning was lost through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/muddy-language-is-not-confined-to-policies-alone-each-of-you-has-seen/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [In the past a man was expected to give his seat on a bus to a woman. Today it would be much more courteous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-the-past-a-man-was-expected-to-give-his-seat-on-a-bus-to-a-woman/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/be-courteous-to-all-but-intimate-with-few-and-let-those-few-be-well/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [No one has ever been offended by someone with good manners and courteous behaviour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/no-one-has-ever-been-offended-by-someone-with-good-manners-and/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Well, I will scourge those apes, And to these courteous eyes oppose a mirror, As large as is the stage whereon we act; Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/well-i-will-scourge-those-apes-and-to-these-courteous-eyes-oppose-a/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [From the loving example of one family a whole State may become loving, and from its courtesies, courteous; while from the ambition and perverseness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/from-the-loving-example-of-one-family-a-whole-state-may-become-loving/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Golfers are genuinely courteous in a discourteous world. Show me a guest on The Jerry Springer Show who's a golfer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/golfers-are-genuinely-courteous-in-a-discourteous-world-show-me-a/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) Browse all 161 Courteous quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is better to have too much courtesy than too little, provided you are not equally courteous to all, for that would be injustice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Baltasar Gracian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/it-is-better-to-have-too-much-courtesy-than-too-little-provided-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courteous" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/it-is-better-to-have-too-much-courtesy-than-too-little-provided-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/baltasar-gracian-1090_courteous_it-is-better-to-have-too-much-courtesy-t_1775260.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/baltasar-gracian-1090_courteous_it-is-better-to-have-too-much-courtesy-t_1775260.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/baltasar-gracian-1090_courteous_it-is-better-to-have-too-much-courtesy-t_1775260.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is better to have too much courtesy than too little, provided you are not equally courteous to all, for…” — Baltasar Gracian", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Baltasar Gracian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is better to have too...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/it-is-better-to-have-too-much-courtesy-than-too-little-provided-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/it-is-better-to-have-too-much-courtesy-than-too-little-provided-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```