--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Politeness is good nature regulated by…" description: "\"Politeness is good nature regulated by good sense.\" — Sydney Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/sydney-smith-6523_army_politeness-is-good-nature-regulated-by-g_1729700.png" --- # Politeness is good nature regulated by good sense. ![“Politeness is good nature regulated by good sense.” quote by Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/sydney-smith-6523_army_politeness-is-good-nature-regulated-by-g_1729700.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/sydney-smith-6523_army_politeness-is-good-nature-regulated-by-g_1729700.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/sydney-smith-6523_army_politeness-is-good-nature-regulated-by-g_1729700.png) > “Politeness is good nature regulated by good sense.” [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politeness is courteous behavior guided by practical judgment rather than mere kindness. **In simple terms:** Politeness blends courtesy with sense. Key Takeaway Practice courteous common sense. Themes civility social etiquette judgment Mood thoughtful balanced Type ethical practical When to use this quote - workplace interactions - public service - daily conversations Key Concepts ethics social norms Questions to Reflect On - When does politeness become a barrier? - How can you balance honesty with courtesy? A Different Perspective Politeness can be perceived as insincere if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Good nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-nature/) [Good sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-sense/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Politeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politeness/) [Politeness Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politeness-good-391682/) [Regulated Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regulated-good-1419045/) ## Related quotes > [There are few defects in our nature so glaring as not to be veiled from observation by politeness and good-breeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/there-are-few-defects-in-our-nature-so-glaring-as-not-to-be-veiled/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [I think this whole discussion about what is politically correct - sometimes you have to name the name. You can't hide it. Politeness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/i-think-this-whole-discussion-about-what-is-politically-correct/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [There is no policy like politeness; and a good manner is the best thing in the world either to get a good name, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/there-is-no-policy-like-politeness-and-a-good-manner-is-the-best/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [ “Politeness is good only in social relations, because to be polite in literary or academic \[matters\] would be to be dishonest. Ipinasa mo out… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teodoro-a-agoncillo/politeness-is-good-only-in-social-relations-because-to-be-polite-in/) [Teodoro A. Agoncillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teodoro-a-agoncillo/) > [Politeness is the result of good sense and good nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politeness-is-the-result-of-good-sense-and-good-nature/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Politeness has been defined to be artificial good-nature; but we may affirm, with much greater propriety, that good-nature is natural politeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/politeness-has-been-defined-to-be-artificial-good-nature-but-we-may/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [Good Nature, and Evenness of Temper, will give you an easie Companion for Life; Vertue and good Sense, an agreeable Friend; Love and Constancy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/good-nature-and-evenness-of-temper-will-give-you-an-easie-companion/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Have as much good nature as good sense since they generally are companions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/have-as-much-good-nature-as-good-sense-since-they-generally-are/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [There is more of good nature than of good sense at the bottom of most marriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-is-more-of-good-nature-than-of-good-sense-at-the-bottom-of-most/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Good sense and good-nature are never separated, though the ignorant world has thought otherwise. Good-nature, by which I mean beneficence and candor, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/good-sense-and-good-nature-are-never-separated-though-the-ignorant/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Good sense and good nature are never separated; and good nature is the product of right reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/good-sense-and-good-nature-are-never-separated-and-good-nature-is-the/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The sure way of judging whether our first thoughts are judicious, is to sleep on them. If they appear of the same force the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/the-sure-way-of-judging-whether-our-first-thoughts-are-judicious-is/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Good breeding is the result of good sense, some good nature, and a little self-denial for the sake of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/good-breeding-is-the-result-of-good-sense-some-good-nature-and-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Good-nature and good-sense must ever join; To err is human, to forgive, divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/good-nature-and-good-sense-must-ever-join-to-err-is-human-to-forgive/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Honesty is good sense, politeness, amiableness,--all in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/honesty-is-good-sense-politeness-amiableness-all-in-one/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) ## More by Sydney Smith > [Live always in the best company when you read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/live-always-in-the-best-company-when-you-read/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [Scotland: That garret of the earth - that knuckle-end of England - that land of Calvin, oatcakes, and sulfur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/scotland-that-garret-of-the-earth-that-knuckle-end-of-england-that/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [My living in Yorkshire was so far out of the way, that it was eleven miles away from a lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/my-living-in-yorkshire-was-so-far-out-of-the-way-that-it-was-eleven/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [Poverty is no disgrace to a man, but it is confoundedly inconvenient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/poverty-is-no-disgrace-to-a-man-but-it-is-confoundedly-inconvenient/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [A comfortable house is a great source of happiness. It ranks immediately after health and a good conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/a-comfortable-house-is-a-great-source-of-happiness-it-ranks/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [How can a bishop marry? How can he flirt? The most he can say is "I will see you in the vestry after service."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/how-can-a-bishop-marry-how-can-he-flirt-the-most-he-can-say-is-i-will/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little - do what you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/it-is-the-greatest-of-all-mistakes-to-do-nothing-because-you-can-only/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [Silence is a girl's loudest shout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/silence-is-a-girl-s-loudest-shout/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves obscure men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/a-great-deal-of-talent-is-lost-to-the-world-for-want-of-a-little/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [A man who wishes to make his way in life could do no better than go through the world with a boiling tea-kettle in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/a-man-who-wishes-to-make-his-way-in-life-could-do-no-better-than-go/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [ \[T\]he 47th proposition in Euclid might now be voted down with as much ease as any proposition in politics; and therefore if Lord Hawkesbury… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/t-he-47th-proposition-in-euclid-might-now-be-voted-down-with-as-much/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [Be what nature intended you for, and you will succeed; be anything else and you will be ten thousand times worse than nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/be-what-nature-intended-you-for-and-you-will-succeed-be-anything-else/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [To business that we love we rise bedtime, and go to't with delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/to-business-that-we-love-we-rise-bedtime-and-go-to-t-with-delight/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [The schoolboy whips his taxed top; the beardless youth manages his taxed horse with a taxed bridle on a taxed road; and the dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/the-schoolboy-whips-his-taxed-top-the-beardless-youth-manages-his/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [I always fear that creation will expire before teatime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/i-always-fear-that-creation-will-expire-before-teatime/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) [Explore all 98 Sydney Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Politeness is good nature regulated by good sense.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sydney Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/politeness-is-good-nature-regulated-by-good-sense/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Army" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/politeness-is-good-nature-regulated-by-good-sense/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/sydney-smith-6523_army_politeness-is-good-nature-regulated-by-g_1729700.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/sydney-smith-6523_army_politeness-is-good-nature-regulated-by-g_1729700.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/sydney-smith-6523_army_politeness-is-good-nature-regulated-by-g_1729700.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Politeness is good nature regulated by good sense.” — Sydney Smith", "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": "Sydney Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Politeness is good nature regulated by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/politeness-is-good-nature-regulated-by-good-sense/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/politeness-is-good-nature-regulated-by-good-sense/#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 } } ] } ```