--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greater the controversy, the more you…" description: "\"The greater the controversy, the more you need manners.\" — Judith Martin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/judith-martin-1927_controversy_the-greater-the-controversy-the-more-you_2452523.png" --- # The greater the controversy, the more you need manners. ![“The greater the controversy, the more you need manners.” quote by Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/judith-martin-1927_controversy_the-greater-the-controversy-the-more-you_2452523.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/judith-martin-1927_controversy_the-greater-the-controversy-the-more-you_2452523.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/judith-martin-1927_controversy_the-greater-the-controversy-the-more-you_2452523.png) > “The greater the controversy, the more you need manners.” [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. When controversy rises, courteous behavior becomes essential to maintain dialogue. **In simple terms:** More controversy needs more manners. Key Takeaway Practice respect even in heated discussions. Themes etiquette conflict communication Mood respectful calm Type practical guidance When to use this quote - online forums - public debates Key Concepts social norms civility Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance honesty with politeness? - When should we prioritize truth over courtesy? A Different Perspective Manners alone may not resolve deep disagreements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Controversy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“Miss Manners hereby absolves everyone from feeling any embarrassment deliberately imposed by others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/miss-manners-hereby-absolves-everyone-from-feeling-any-embarrassment/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Nobody believes that the man who says, 'Look, lady, you wanted equality,' to explain why he won't give up his seat to a pregnant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/nobody-believes-that-the-man-who-says-look-lady-you-wanted-equality/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [The underlying principles of manners- respect, fairness, and congeniality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-underlying-principles-of-manners-respect-fairness-and-congeniality/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“One can become quite proficient at this amiable patter; the trick is to omit the instructive parts when attending formal dinner parties outside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/one-can-become-quite-proficient-at-this-amiable-patter-the-trick-is/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“Relax!” “Don’t go to so much trouble!” “Why don’t you use plastic glasses?” “Take off your jacket!” “Why don’t you use paper napkins?” “Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/relax-don-t-go-to-so-much-trouble-why-don-t-you-use-plastic-glasses/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“DEAR MISS MANNERS: I a tired of being treated like a child. My father says it's because I am a child--I am twelve-and-a-half years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/dear-miss-manners-i-a-tired-of-being-treated-like-a-child-my-father/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [The challenge of manners is not so much to be nice to someone whose favor and/or person you covet (although more people need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-challenge-of-manners-is-not-so-much-to-be-nice-to-someone-whose/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Sometimes as a player you do not want to get into a controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/sometimes-as-a-player-you-do-not-want-to-get-into-a-controversy/) [Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/) > [Controversy for the sake of controversy is sin. Controversy for the sake of truth is a divine command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-martin/controversy-for-the-sake-of-controversy-is-sin-controversy-for-the/) [Walter Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-martin/) > [Some people want to have controversy between the races.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/some-people-want-to-have-controversy-between-the-races/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [Controversy equalizes fools and wise men in the same way - and the fools know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/controversy-equalizes-fools-and-wise-men-in-the-same-way-and-the/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/) > [My pride is the length of time I have worked in the industry without any major controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/my-pride-is-the-length-of-time-i-have-worked-in-the-industry-without/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [ As we have seen after every other \[Donald\] Trump controversy, this one only increased their enthusiasm for him. His supporters thought the idea of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/as-we-have-seen-after-every-other-donald-trump-controversy-this-one/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) ## 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. If you're in a courtroom you need the whole truth and nothing but the truth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/honesty-is-a-virtue-but-not-the-only-one-if-you-re-in-a-courtroom-you/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Only a person who considers himself too good for you is good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/only-a-person-who-considers-himself-too-good-for-you-is-good-enough/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [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/) [Explore all 197 Judith Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) ## More Controversy quotes > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [ As we have seen after every other \[Donald\] Trump controversy, this one only increased their enthusiasm for him. His supporters thought the idea of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/as-we-have-seen-after-every-other-donald-trump-controversy-this-one/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [My pride is the length of time I have worked in the industry without any major controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/my-pride-is-the-length-of-time-i-have-worked-in-the-industry-without/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [Controversy equalizes fools and wise men in the same way - and the fools know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/controversy-equalizes-fools-and-wise-men-in-the-same-way-and-the/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/) > [Some people want to have controversy between the races.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/some-people-want-to-have-controversy-between-the-races/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [Controversy for the sake of controversy is sin. Controversy for the sake of truth is a divine command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-martin/controversy-for-the-sake-of-controversy-is-sin-controversy-for-the/) [Walter Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-martin/) > [Sometimes as a player you do not want to get into a controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/sometimes-as-a-player-you-do-not-want-to-get-into-a-controversy/) [Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/) > [Science does not enter a chaotic society to put order into it anymore, to simplify its composition, and to put an end to controversies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-latour/science-does-not-enter-a-chaotic-society-to-put-order-into-it-anymore/) [Bruno Latour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-latour/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [My stress on the truth in sexual stereotypes and on the biologic basis of sex differences is sure to cause controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/my-stress-on-the-truth-in-sexual-stereotypes-and-on-the-biologic/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Controversy sells, politics sell, all that type of stuff sells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/controversy-sells-politics-sell-all-that-type-of-stuff-sells/) [Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/) > [Please don't think that I got married on TV for publicity. I already enjoyed a huge fan following, courtesy my character in Bidaai.' Instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-khan/please-don-t-think-that-i-got-married-on-tv-for-publicity-i-already/) [Sara Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-khan/) > [There's a lot of controversy online, some people say i'm a genius and other say i'm hugely talented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kindler/there-s-a-lot-of-controversy-online-some-people-say-i-m-a-genius-and/) [Andy Kindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kindler/) > [Gossip is never fatal until it is denied. Gossip goes on about every human being alive and about all the dead that are alive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booth-tarkington/gossip-is-never-fatal-until-it-is-denied-gossip-goes-on-about-every/) [Booth Tarkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booth-tarkington/) > [I think controversy is an interesting thing in that it usually goes hand in hand with starting conversations that surround taboo or under-discussed topics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-sharp/i-think-controversy-is-an-interesting-thing-in-that-it-usually-goes/) [Alex Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-sharp/) [Browse all 604 Controversy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The greater the controversy, the more you need manners.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Judith Martin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-greater-the-controversy-the-more-you-need-manners/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Controversy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-greater-the-controversy-the-more-you-need-manners/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/judith-martin-1927_controversy_the-greater-the-controversy-the-more-you_2452523.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/judith-martin-1927_controversy_the-greater-the-controversy-the-more-you_2452523.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/judith-martin-1927_controversy_the-greater-the-controversy-the-more-you_2452523.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The greater the controversy, the more you need manners.” — Judith Martin", "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": "Judith Martin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The greater the controversy, the more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-greater-the-controversy-the-more-you-need-manners/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-greater-the-controversy-the-more-you-need-manners/#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 } } ] } ```