Behaving Quote by Will Cuppy
““Etiquette, or dog in the original Coptic, means behaving yourself a little better than is absolutely essential.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Complete Works of Will Cuppy, 1935
Etiquette is an unnecessary excess beyond basic decency.
In simple terms: Etiquette is optional.
Key Takeaway
Focus on essential manners.
Themes
social norms
humor
critique
Mood
witty
skeptical
Type
humorous
observational
When to use this quote
- formal events
- online interactions
- dinner parties
Key Concepts
excess
essentialism
social convention
Questions to Reflect On
- When is etiquette helpful?
- Can simplicity improve relationships?
A Different Perspective
Excessive etiquette can create social barriers.
![“[Footnote:] Pliny the Elder described a Whale called "Balaena or Whirlpool, which is so long and broad as to take up more in length and breadth than two acres of ground." This brings up again the old question: Are the classics doomed? Our ancestors believed that four years of this sort of…” quote by Will Cuppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c1/will-cuppy-7569_acres_footnote-pliny-the-elder-described-a-wha_84284.jpg)
![“[Footnote:] The female of any species is generally regarded as a relatively anabolic organism, more passive than the male, who is relatively katabolic and active. The fact remains that one frequently runs across a rather katabolic female.” quote by Will Cuppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b43/will-cuppy-7569_active_footnote-the-female-of-any-species-is-ge_381362.jpg)
