--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are three cardinal rules - don't…" description: "\"There are three cardinal rules - don't take somebody else's boyfriend unless you've been specifically invited to do so, don't take a drink without bein..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/w-h-auden-856_accounting_there-are-three-cardinal-rules-don-t-tak_830554.png" --- # There are three cardinal rules - don't take somebody… ![“There are three cardinal rules - don't take somebody else's boyfriend unless you've been specifically invited to do so, don't take a drink without being asked, and keep a scrupulous accounting in financial matters.” quote by W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/w-h-auden-856_accounting_there-are-three-cardinal-rules-don-t-tak_830554.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/w-h-auden-856_accounting_there-are-three-cardinal-rules-don-t-tak_830554.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/w-h-auden-856_accounting_there-are-three-cardinal-rules-don-t-tak_830554.png) > “There are three cardinal rules - don't take somebody else's boyfriend unless you've been specifically invited to do so, don't take a drink without being asked, and keep a scrupulous accounting in financial matters.” [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote humorously lists three social etiquette rules about relationships, hospitality, and financial honesty, implying respect for personal boundaries and integrity. **In simple terms:** Respect others' relationships, ask before taking drinks, keep accurate finances. Key Takeaway Honor boundaries, ask permission, be meticulous with money. Themes etiquette integrity relationships Mood lighthearted reflective Type humorous advice When to use this quote - dating - social gatherings - business transactions - budgeting Key Concepts social norms personal boundaries financial honesty Questions to Reflect On - Do you always ask before taking something? - How do you ensure financial transparency? A Different Perspective May be overly prescriptive; cultural contexts differ. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accounting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accounting/) [Boyfriend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boyfriend/) [Boyfriend Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boyfriend-unless-554837/) [Cardinal rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cardinal-rules/) [Cardinals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cardinals/) [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [Financial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financial/) [Funny business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-business/) [Invited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invited/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/) [Somebody Boyfriend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody-boyfriend-554838/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) ## Related quotes > [“I was somebody's boyfriend now. This would mean a lot of trial and error. 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Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-coleman/) > [I made up my mind long ago to follow one cardinal rule in all my writing — to be clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-made-up-my-mind-long-ago-to-follow-one-cardinal-rule-in-all-my/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [The cardinal rule for hosting the Miss USA and Miss Universe beauty pageants is to expect the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/the-cardinal-rule-for-hosting-the-miss-usa-and-miss-universe-beauty/) [Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/) > [Pick the assumptions to pieces till the stuff they are made of is exposed to plain view - this is the cardinal rule for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-temple-bell/pick-the-assumptions-to-pieces-till-the-stuff-they-are-made-of-is/) [Eric Temple Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-temple-bell/) ## More by W. H. Auden > [Pleasure is by no means an infallible critical guide, but it is the least fallible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/pleasure-is-by-no-means-an-infallible-critical-guide-but-it-is-the/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Why doesn't the United States take over the monarchy and unite with England? England does have important assets. Naturally the longer you wait, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/why-doesn-t-the-united-states-take-over-the-monarchy-and-unite-with/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [The commonest ivory tower is that of the average man, the state of passivity towards experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/the-commonest-ivory-tower-is-that-of-the-average-man-the-state-of/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Harrow the house of the dead; look shining at New styles of architecture, a change of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/harrow-the-house-of-the-dead-look-shining-at-new-styles-of/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Most poetry is the utterance of a man in some state of passion, love, joy, grief, rage, etc., and no doubt this is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/most-poetry-is-the-utterance-of-a-man-in-some-state-of-passion-love/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Men will pay large sums to whores for telling them they are not bores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/men-will-pay-large-sums-to-whores-for-telling-them-they-are-not-bores/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [If age, which is certainly Just as wicked as youth, look any wiser, It is only that youth is still able to believe It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/if-age-which-is-certainly-just-as-wicked-as-youth-look-any-wiser-it/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [“Those to whom evil is done, do evil in return”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/those-to-whom-evil-is-done-do-evil-in-return/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [I and the public know What all schoolchildren learn, Those to whom evil is done Do evil in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/i-and-the-public-know-what-all-schoolchildren-learn-those-to-whom/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [One cannot walk through an assembly factory and not feel that one is in Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/one-cannot-walk-through-an-assembly-factory-and-not-feel-that-one-is/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [How happy the lot of the mathematician. He is judged solely by his peers, and the standard is so high that no colleague or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/how-happy-the-lot-of-the-mathematician-he-is-judged-solely-by-his/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Perhaps there is only one cardinal sin: impatience. Because of impatience we were driven out of Paradise, because of impatience we cannot return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/perhaps-there-is-only-one-cardinal-sin-impatience-because-of/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [The windiest militant trash Important Persons shout Is not so crude as our wish: What mad Nijinsky wrote About Diaghilev Is true of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/the-windiest-militant-trash-important-persons-shout-is-not-so-crude/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Time and fevers burn away Individual beauty from Thoughtful children, and the grave Proves the child ephemeral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/time-and-fevers-burn-away-individual-beauty-from-thoughtful-children/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [To hunt for symbols in a fairy tale is absolutely fatal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/to-hunt-for-symbols-in-a-fairy-tale-is-absolutely-fatal/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) [Explore all 344 W. H. Auden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) ## More Accounting quotes > [We do not know enough about how the present will lead into the future. We shall never be able to say, "Ha! My perception,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/we-do-not-know-enough-about-how-the-present-will-lead-into-the-future/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [“Outer happiness has Diminishing Marginal Utility; the more it grows, the satisfaction decreases. Resort to inner happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/outer-happiness-has-diminishing-marginal-utility-the-more-it-grows/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [Regulations for international accounting and funding will have to be examined to identify policies that inadvertently discourage institutional investors from putting their resources into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/regulations-for-international-accounting-and-funding-will-have-to-be/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [There is no business like show business. 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