--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How do you do?” depending on the…" description: "\"“How do you do?” depending on the formality of the occasion, and whether you can count on the other person to understand that the answer to “How do you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef8/judith-martin-1927_answer_how-do-you-do-depending-on-the-formality_976297.jpg" --- # How do you do?” depending on the formality of the… ![“How do you do?” depending on the formality of the occasion, and whether you can count on the other person to understand that the answer to “How do you do?” is “How do you do?” even though that makes two questions in a row. (Etiquette opposes any declaration of being pleased to meet someone on the…” quote by Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef8/judith-martin-1927_answer_how-do-you-do-depending-on-the-formality_976297.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef8/judith-martin-1927_answer_how-do-you-do-depending-on-the-formality_976297.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef8/judith-martin-1927_answer_how-do-you-do-depending-on-the-formality_976297.jpg) > ““How do you do?” depending on the formality of the occasion, and whether you can count on the other person to understand that the answer to “How do you do?” is “How do you do?” even though that makes two questions in a row. (Etiquette opposes any declaration of being pleased to meet someone on the cynical grounds that it may not turn out to be a pleasure.) The”” [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Polite greetings can become circular and meaningless if not grounded in genuine intent, exposing the tension between formality and authenticity. **In simple terms:** Formal greetings can be hollow without sincerity. Key Takeaway Seek genuine connection beyond scripted greetings. Themes etiquette communication authenticity formalities Mood thoughtful formal reflective Type advice social philosophical When to use this quote - business meetings - social gatherings - first impressions Key Concepts social norms language psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you make a greeting feel sincere? - When is formality appropriate? A Different Perspective Overly formal greetings can create distance rather than rapport. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/) [Depending Formality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depending-formality-1908653/) [Etiquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/etiquette/) [Formality Occasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formality-occasion-1908654/) [Makes Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-questions-1908655/) ## Related quotes > [If there are questions then, of course, there are answers, but the final answer makes the questions seem absurd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/if-there-are-questions-then-of-course-there-are-answers-but-the-final/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Society cannot exist without etiquette ... It never has, and until our own century, everybody knew that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/society-cannot-exist-without-etiquette-it-never-has-and-until-our-own/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [If it's against state law, it's generally considered a breach of Etiquette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/if-it-s-against-state-law-it-s-generally-considered-a-breach-of/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Etiquette does not render you defenseless. If it did, even I wouldn't subscribe to it. But rudeness in retaliation for rudeness just doubles the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/etiquette-does-not-render-you-defenseless-if-it-did-even-i-wouldn-t/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [A general rule of etiquette is that one apologizes for the unfortunate occurrence, but the unthinkable is unmentionable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/a-general-rule-of-etiquette-is-that-one-apologizes-for-the/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [You can deny all you want that there is etiquette, and a lot of people do in everyday life. But if you behave in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/you-can-deny-all-you-want-that-there-is-etiquette-and-a-lot-of-people/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [The etiquette question that troubles so many fastidious people New Year's Day is: How am I ever going to face those people again?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-etiquette-question-that-troubles-so-many-fastidious-people-new/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“As if etiquette weren’t magnificently capable of being used to make others feel uncomfortable. All right. Miss Manners will give you an example, although…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/as-if-etiquette-weren-t-magnificently-capable-of-being-used-to-make/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Shame is the proper reaction when one has purposefully violated the accepted behavior of society. Inflicting it is etiquette's response when its rules are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/shame-is-the-proper-reaction-when-one-has-purposefully-violated-the/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [One reason that the task of inventing manners is so difficult is that etiquette is folk custom, and people have emotional ties to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/one-reason-that-the-task-of-inventing-manners-is-so-difficult-is-that/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Yes, etiquette is hypocritical. Yes, it does inhibit children - if you're lucky. But the idea that it's elitist and irrelevant is like saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/yes-etiquette-is-hypocritical-yes-it-does-inhibit-children-if-you-re/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Etiquette is about all of human social behavior. Behavior is regulated by law when etiquette breaks down or when the stakes are high -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/etiquette-is-about-all-of-human-social-behavior-behavior-is-regulated/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [The idea that people can behave naturally, without resorting to an artificial code tacitly agreed upon by their society, is as silly as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-idea-that-people-can-behave-naturally-without-resorting-to-an/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [The etiquette of intimacy is very different from the etiquette of formality, but manners are not just something to show off to the outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-etiquette-of-intimacy-is-very-different-from-the-etiquette-of/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [People think, mistakenly, that etiquette means you have to suppress your differences. On the contray, etiquette is what enables you to deal with them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/people-think-mistakenly-that-etiquette-means-you-have-to-suppress/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) ## More by Judith Martin > [Smart people duck when they hear the dread announcement 'I'm going to be perfectly honest with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/smart-people-duck-when-they-hear-the-dread-announcement-i-m-going-to/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [If you put together all the ingredients that naturally attract children - sex, violence, revenge, spectacle and vigorous noise - what you have is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/if-you-put-together-all-the-ingredients-that-naturally-attract/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [The one prediction that never comes true is, 'You'll thank me for telling you this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-one-prediction-that-never-comes-true-is-you-ll-thank-me-for/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Chaperons, even in their days of glory, were almost never able to enforce morality; what they did was to force immorality to be discreet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/chaperons-even-in-their-days-of-glory-were-almost-never-able-to/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [There are always proper responses, even to rude questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/there-are-always-proper-responses-even-to-rude-questions/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Perhaps the greatest rudenesses of our time come not from the callousness of strangers, but from the solicitousness of intimates who believe that their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/perhaps-the-greatest-rudenesses-of-our-time-come-not-from-the/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [We are all entitled to our little harmless habits, but we are not entitled to demand approval for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/we-are-all-entitled-to-our-little-harmless-habits-but-we-are-not/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“Lady” is not used before the lady’s first name unless she is the daughter of a duke, marquess or earl; those who come by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/lady-is-not-used-before-the-lady-s-first-name-unless-she-is-the/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Greece is a good place for rebirths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/greece-is-a-good-place-for-rebirths/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Adorable children are considered to be the general property of the human race. Rude children belong to their mothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/adorable-children-are-considered-to-be-the-general-property-of-the/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [I have always believed that the key to a happy marriage was the ability to say with a straight face, 'Why, I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/i-have-always-believed-that-the-key-to-a-happy-marriage-was-the/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [It is, indeed, a trial to maintain the virtue of humility when one can't help being right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/it-is-indeed-a-trial-to-maintain-the-virtue-of-humility-when-one-can/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Honesty is a virtue, but not the only one. 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It never has, and until our own century, everybody knew that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/society-cannot-exist-without-etiquette-it-never-has-and-until-our-own/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) [Explore all 197 Judith Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) ## More Answer quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/) [Jon Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ellis/) > [“There is a cure and answer to everything, we just haven't found them yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/there-is-a-cure-and-answer-to-everything-we-just-haven-t-found-them/) [Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/) > [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [“Those are good questions. I recognize good questions, because I can come up with them myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/those-are-good-questions-i-recognize-good-questions-because-i-can/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [“...I guess I can put two and two together." 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