--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Politeness is half good manners and half…" description: "\"Politeness is half good manners and half good lying.\" — Mary Wilson Little" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/mary-wilson-little-41307_good_politeness-is-half-good-manners-and-half_1755168.jpg" --- # Politeness is half good manners and half good lying. ![“Politeness is half good manners and half good lying.” quote by Mary Wilson Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/mary-wilson-little-41307_good_politeness-is-half-good-manners-and-half_1755168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/mary-wilson-little-41307_good_politeness-is-half-good-manners-and-half_1755168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/mary-wilson-little-41307_good_politeness-is-half-good-manners-and-half_1755168.jpg) > “Politeness is half good manners and half good lying.” [Mary Wilson Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wilson-little/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politeness blends genuine courtesy with strategic deception to maintain social harmony. **In simple terms:** Politeness mixes honesty and white lies. Key Takeaway Balance truth with tact. Themes social etiquette communication trust Mood considerate strategic Type advice observational When to use this quote - customer service - diplomacy - personal relationships - networking - conflict resolution Key Concepts honesty deception social harmony Questions to Reflect On - When does politeness become harmful? - How can you be kind without lying? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on deception can erode authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Good manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-manners/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Politeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politeness/) ## Related quotes > [Politeness is only one half good manners and the other half good lying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wilson-little/politeness-is-only-one-half-good-manners-and-the-other-half-good-lying/) [Mary Wilson Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wilson-little/) > [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/) > [Civility means a great deal more than just being nice to one another. 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Bad manners can cost you your reputation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-d-hawkey/good-manners-cost-nothing-bad-manners-can-cost-you-your-reputation/) B.D.Hawkey > [“Politeness is the first thing people lose once they get the power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/politeness-is-the-first-thing-people-lose-once-they-get-the-power/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“There is an old German fable about porcupines who need to huddle together for warmth, but are in danger of hurting each other with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/there-is-an-old-german-fable-about-porcupines-who-need-to-huddle/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [Teach a child good manners during babyhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nachman-of-breslov/teach-a-child-good-manners-during-babyhood/) [Nachman of Breslov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nachman-of-breslov/) > [When will conventional good manners become attractive? 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