--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Civility is a choice." description: "\"Civility is a choice.\" — Dana Perino" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/dana-perino-2974_choice_civility-is-a-choice-2130985_2130985.png" --- # Civility is a choice. ![“Civility is a choice.” quote by Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/dana-perino-2974_choice_civility-is-a-choice-2130985_2130985.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/dana-perino-2974_choice_civility-is-a-choice-2130985_2130985.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/dana-perino-2974_choice_civility-is-a-choice-2130985_2130985.png) > “Civility is a choice.” [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing civility is an active decision that shapes discourse and respect. **In simple terms:** Civility is a conscious choice. Key Takeaway Practice respectful dialogue. Themes civility choice communication Mood calm determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - customer service - family discussions Key Concepts social responsibility interpersonal skills Questions to Reflect On - When is civility most challenging? - How can we balance firmness with respect? A Different Perspective Civility may be seen as weakness in hostile environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Civility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civility/) ## Related quotes > [I get a choice every time I have to open my mouth: that it can be with civility and dignity and grace - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-get-a-choice-every-time-i-have-to-open-my-mouth-that-it-can-be-with/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I am a pretty level-headed person, but that person, Harry Reid, has been the most destructive entity in Washington when it comes to civility.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-am-a-pretty-level-headed-person-but-that-person-harry-reid-has-been/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [ \[T\]he politically correct are above the rules of ordinary civility, once they have identified you as an unbeliever in their religion. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/t-he-politically-correct-are-above-the-rules-of-ordinary-civility/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > ['Playboy' operated with a patina of civility that granted the average man a presumption of pleasure that went one way - his. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/playboy-operated-with-a-patina-of-civility-that-granted-the-average/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [A good word is an easy obligation; but not to speak ill requires only our silence, which costs us nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/a-good-word-is-an-easy-obligation-but-not-to-speak-ill-requires-only/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be; because he shows you, by his manner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/the-insolent-civility-of-a-proud-man-is-if-possible-more-shocking/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“Never in England were there so many gentlemen and so little gentleness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/never-in-england-were-there-so-many-gentlemen-and-so-little-gentleness/) [C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) > [“Elizabeth received them with all the forbearance of civility”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/elizabeth-received-them-with-all-the-forbearance-of-civility/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“When someone has wronged you, continue to treat them with civility. It’s the ultimate mark of a mensch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruna-martinuzzi/when-someone-has-wronged-you-continue-to-treat-them-with-civility-it/) [Bruna Martinuzzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruna-martinuzzi/) > [They parted at last with mutual civility, and possibly a mutual desire of never meeting again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/they-parted-at-last-with-mutual-civility-and-possibly-a-mutual-desire/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [How much wit, good-nature, indulgences, how many good offices and civilities, are required among friends to accomplish in some years what a lovely face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/how-much-wit-good-nature-indulgences-how-many-good-offices-and/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [The Second World War had a precipitating effect in that it discredited the empires, as well as bankrupting them. Not only could you no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/the-second-world-war-had-a-precipitating-effect-in-that-it/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [Martha Stewart contributes more to our civility than the Baptist Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-hickey/martha-stewart-contributes-more-to-our-civility-than-the-baptist/) [Dave Hickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-hickey/) > [Most adults would not dream of belittling, humiliating, or bullying (verbally or physically) another adult. But many of the same adults think nothing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/most-adults-would-not-dream-of-belittling-humiliating-or-bullying/) [Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## More by Dana Perino > [On election night 2000, I had never met then-Governor Bush, though I'd supported him for years. I believed he would be a strong, optimistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/on-election-night-2000-i-had-never-met-then-governor-bush-though-i-d/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [There are times, especially on 'The Five,' where I've lost control for a moment. I always feel bad about it, but those always seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/there-are-times-especially-on-the-five-where-i-ve-lost-control-for-a/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I am a pretty level-headed person, but that person, Harry Reid, has been the most destructive entity in Washington when it comes to civility.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-am-a-pretty-level-headed-person-but-that-person-harry-reid-has-been/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [Conservatism by its very nature is compassionate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/conservatism-by-its-very-nature-is-compassionate/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I believe that leaders should inspire you to be more like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-believe-that-leaders-should-inspire-you-to-be-more-like-them/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [Even before the hearings that led to confirmation of Chief Justice Roberts, senators were saying they were reserving judgment on how they would vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/even-before-the-hearings-that-led-to-confirmation-of-chief-justice/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [President Obama was never going repeal Obamacare - he was not going to be brought to his knees with the threat of a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/president-obama-was-never-going-repeal-obamacare-he-was-not-going-to/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I feel like there should be a statute of limitations on scoring political points on the tragedy that was Hurricane Katrina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-feel-like-there-should-be-a-statute-of-limitations-on-scoring/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I think it is very good for the country, for the world, and especially for the Democrats that Harry Reid is retiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-think-it-is-very-good-for-the-country-for-the-world-and-especially/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [My dad was a voracious news consumer. I remember just sitting with my family all the time. I would sit on his lap and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/my-dad-was-a-voracious-news-consumer-i-remember-just-sitting-with-my/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [Don't forget: before there would be a #NeverTrump hashtag, there would have been a #NeverJeb hashtag. And a lot of people would have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/don-t-forget-before-there-would-be-a-nevertrump-hashtag-there-would/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I was raised to believe that America was a force for good in the world and that it should take its leadership role seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-was-raised-to-believe-that-america-was-a-force-for-good-in-the/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I love to drive in the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota with Mount Rushmore as the central stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-love-to-drive-in-the-black-hills-of-wyoming-and-south-dakota-with/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I've traveled to many countries in Africa, and to me, Benin felt the most hopeful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-ve-traveled-to-many-countries-in-africa-and-to-me-benin-felt-the/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I get a choice every time I have to open my mouth: that it can be with civility and dignity and grace - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-get-a-choice-every-time-i-have-to-open-my-mouth-that-it-can-be-with/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) [Explore all 143 Dana Perino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) Randy C. Dockens > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Civility is a choice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dana Perino" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/civility-is-a-choice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/civility-is-a-choice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/dana-perino-2974_choice_civility-is-a-choice-2130985_2130985.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/dana-perino-2974_choice_civility-is-a-choice-2130985_2130985.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/dana-perino-2974_choice_civility-is-a-choice-2130985_2130985.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Civility is a choice.” — Dana Perino", "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": "Dana Perino", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Civility is a choice.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/civility-is-a-choice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/civility-is-a-choice/#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 } } ] } ```