--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our young people, raised under the old…" description: "\"“Our young people, raised under the old rules of courtesy, never indulged in the present habit of talking incessantly and all at the same time. To do s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/kent-nerburn-10008_courtesy_our-young-people-raised-under-the-old-ru_1547438.png" --- # Our young people, raised under the old rules of courtesy… ![“Our young people, raised under the old rules of courtesy, never indulged in the present habit of talking incessantly and all at the same time. To do so would have been not only impolite, but foolish; for poise, so much admired as a social grace, could not be accompanied by restlessness. Pauses…” quote by Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/kent-nerburn-10008_courtesy_our-young-people-raised-under-the-old-ru_1547438.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/kent-nerburn-10008_courtesy_our-young-people-raised-under-the-old-ru_1547438.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/kent-nerburn-10008_courtesy_our-young-people-raised-under-the-old-ru_1547438.png) > ““Our young people, raised under the old rules of courtesy, never indulged in the present habit of talking incessantly and all at the same time. To do so would have been not only impolite, but foolish; for poise, so much admired as a social grace, could not be accompanied by restlessness. Pauses were acknowledged gracefully and did not cause lack of ease or embarrassment.”” [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Constant multitalk erodes poise and social grace; thoughtful pauses maintain respect and ease. **In simple terms:** Talking nonstop hurts politeness. Key Takeaway Value pauses in conversation. Themes communication etiquette mindfulness Mood contemplative calm Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - meetings - family dinners - online chats Key Concepts social grace attention management Questions to Reflect On - How do pauses affect listening? - Can silence improve dialogue? A Different Perspective People may view pauses as awkward. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) [Habit Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-talking-1546932/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Impolite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impolite/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Native americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-americans/) [Pauses Acknowledged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pauses-acknowledged-5776406/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Social Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-grace-471002/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [Once you break someone of the habit of up-talking, they can start to see immediate improvement in their careers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/once-you-break-someone-of-the-habit-of-up-talking-they-can-start-to/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [“You make a habit of talking to statues?” “Yes. And pigeons. Now, are you going to ask?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/you-make-a-habit-of-talking-to-statues-yes-and-pigeons-now-are-you/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [Only a great fool or a great genius is likely to flout all social grace with impunity, and neither one, doing so, makes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-vanderbilt/only-a-great-fool-or-a-great-genius-is-likely-to-flout-all-social/) [Amy Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-vanderbilt/) > [“A true friend has a habit of talking behind your back good things about you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tareq-ragheb/a-true-friend-has-a-habit-of-talking-behind-your-back-good-things/) [Tareq ragheb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tareq-ragheb/) > [Flattery is a challenge. The proper turning away from it, undercutting, diminishing it without offense or vehemence, is a social grace sweeter even than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hardwick/flattery-is-a-challenge-the-proper-turning-away-from-it-undercutting/) [Elizabeth Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hardwick/) > [I come from a small town, so there we have this habit of talking to rickshawallahs while you are making a trip. So when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anubhav-sinha/i-come-from-a-small-town-so-there-we-have-this-habit-of-talking-to/) [Anubhav Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anubhav-sinha/) > [Allowing an unimportant mistake to pass without comment is a wonderful social grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/allowing-an-unimportant-mistake-to-pass-without-comment-is-a/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [I find it awfully difficult to determine if the habit of talking about oneself at length runs contrary to the basic rules of propriety,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/i-find-it-awfully-difficult-to-determine-if-the-habit-of-talking/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [Time is found in the calibration of the individual to the timing of a collective endeavour, the social grace that less clock-bound societies must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/time-is-found-in-the-calibration-of-the-individual-to-the-timing-of-a/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [“In my ten years of teaching I’ve noticed that teachers tend to have a bad habit of talking to themselves. I hypothesize that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-c-cast/in-my-ten-years-of-teaching-i-ve-noticed-that-teachers-tend-to-have-a/) [P.C. Cast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-c-cast/) > [“You can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next, by the fact that their habit is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-thomas-buckle/you-can-tell-the-lowest-class-by-their-habit-of-always-talking-about/) [Henry Thomas Buckle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-thomas-buckle/) > [Social grace, inner discipline and joy. These are the birthright of the human being who has been allowed to develop essential human qualities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/social-grace-inner-discipline-and-joy-these-are-the-birthright-of-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [I don't have a problem talking about my work, but I don't make a habit of talking about myself. There are people who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/i-don-t-have-a-problem-talking-about-my-work-but-i-don-t-make-a-habit/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [In a mad race to nowhere,how many of us stop and look around ? And even the one who do,how many do actually show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sd/in-a-mad-race-to-nowhere-how-many-of-us-stop-and-look-around-and-even/) [Sd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sd/) > [I swear I've never met a man who has your knack for lack of social grace. If you weren't naturally charming, someone would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-swear-i-ve-never-met-a-man-who-has-your-knack-for-lack-of-social/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) ## More by Kent Nerburn > [We may not all live holy lives, but we live in a world alive with holy moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-may-not-all-live-holy-lives-but-we-live-in-a-world-alive-with-holy/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/remember-to-be-gentle-with-yourself-and-others-we-are-all-children-of/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [“In some corner of your life, you know more about something than anyone else on earth. The true measure of your education is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/in-some-corner-of-your-life-you-know-more-about-something-than-anyone/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [We live in a world alive with holy moments. We need only take the time to bring these moments into the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-live-in-a-world-alive-with-holy-moments-we-need-only-take-the-time/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance, and none can say while some fields will blossom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/remember-to-be-gentle-with-yourself-and-others-we-are-all-children-of-2/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [...Good leaders wait to be called and they give up their power when they are no longer needed. Selfish men and fools put themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/good-leaders-wait-to-be-called-and-they-give-up-their-power-when-they/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [We wake up one day and find we have lost our dreams in order to protect our days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-wake-up-one-day-and-find-we-have-lost-our-dreams-in-order-to/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [“What is needed is only a pausing of the heart so the spirit can take wing and be lifted toward the infinite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/what-is-needed-is-only-a-pausing-of-the-heart-so-the-spirit-can-take/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [It is not our task to judge the worthiness of our path; it is our task to walk our path with worthiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/it-is-not-our-task-to-judge-the-worthiness-of-our-path-it-is-our-task/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [“You destroyed it with crosses and diseases and whiskey and guns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/you-destroyed-it-with-crosses-and-diseases-and-whiskey-and-guns/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [When you are here, you are here. When you are gone, you are gone. It isn't a problem to be gone, so long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/when-you-are-here-you-are-here-when-you-are-gone-you-are-gone-it-isn/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [We measure our presence in generations; we cannot dig down ten thousand years and find our bones. Our arrival is scribed upon the line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-measure-our-presence-in-generations-we-cannot-dig-down-ten/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [“Now is the moment when I must pause and lift my heart — now, before the day fragments and my consciousness shatters into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/now-is-the-moment-when-i-must-pause-and-lift-my-heart-now-before-the/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [When all the words have been written, and all the phrases have been spoken, the great mystery of life will still remain. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/when-all-the-words-have-been-written-and-all-the-phrases-have-been/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [“Loneliness is like sitting in an empty room and being aware of the space around you. It is a condition of separateness. Solitude is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/loneliness-is-like-sitting-in-an-empty-room-and-being-aware-of-the/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) [Explore all 68 Kent Nerburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) ## More Courtesy quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Less of your courtesy and more of your purse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/less-of-your-courtesy-and-more-of-your-purse/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [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/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“...a great man who is vicious will only be a great doer of evil, and a rich man who is not liberal will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cervantes/a-great-man-who-is-vicious-will-only-be-a-great-doer-of-evil-and-a/) [Miguel Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cervantes/) > [“I would court you, with all the grace and courtesy that you deserve,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-would-court-you-with-all-the-grace-and-courtesy-that-you-deserve/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [The greater the man the greater the courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-the-great/the-greater-the-man-the-greater-the-courtesy/) [Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/) > [“Out of all its squalor and human decay, its eruptions of butchery, India produced so many people of grace and beauty, ruled by elaborate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/out-of-all-its-squalor-and-human-decay-its-eruptions-of-butchery/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Show some mercy to this chair which has stretched out its arms to you for so long; please satisfy its desire to embrace you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/show-some-mercy-to-this-chair-which-has-stretched-out-its-arms-to-you/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/manners-are-a-sensitive-awareness-of-the-feelings-of-others/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/his-courtesy-was-somewhat-extravagant-he-would-write-and-thank-people/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [They who sow courtesy reap friendship, and they who plant kindness gather love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/they-who-sow-courtesy-reap-friendship-and-they-who-plant-kindness/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [“If a lady offers you a kindness, you absolutely have to accept”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-wallingford/if-a-lady-offers-you-a-kindness-you-absolutely-have-to-accept/) [Maria Wallingford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-wallingford/) > [though I be but the prince of Wales, yet I am king of courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/though-i-be-but-the-prince-of-wales-yet-i-am-king-of-courtesy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Princes of courtesy, merciful, proud and strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-newbolt/princes-of-courtesy-merciful-proud-and-strong/) [Henry Newbolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-newbolt/) [Browse all 527 Courtesy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our young people, raised under the old rules of courtesy, never indulged in the present habit of talking incessantly and all at the same time. 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