Felix Frankfurter Quotes

Morals refine manners, as manners refine morals.

Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.

There is not a single outward mark of courtesy that does not have a deep moral basis.

Good manners are a part of good morals.

I've got confidence that most people in America still have a decent sense of manners, propriety, morality.

Decency is the least of all laws, but yet it is the law which is most strictly observed.

Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split.

The underlying principles of manners- respect, fairness, and congeniality.

I was brought up in a community, in a family that valued such things as good manners, and I still do.

Our manners, our civilization, and all the good things connected with manners and civilization, have, in this European world of ours, depended for ages upon two principles: I mean the spirit of a gentleman, and the spirit of religion.

Behavior, n. Conduct, as determined, not by principle, but by breeding.

Decency, not to dare to do that in public which it is decent enough to do in private.

Wisdom and virtue are by no means sufficient, without the supplemental laws of good-breeding, to secure freedom from degenerating into rudeness, or self esteem from swelling into insolence. A thousand incivilities may be committed, and a thousand offices neglected. without any remorse of conscience, or reproach from reason.

Miss Manners does not mind explaining the finer points of gracious living, but she feels that anyone without the sense to pick up a potato chip and stuff it in their face should probably not be running around loose on the streets.

Good manners can replace morals. It may be years before anyone knows if what you are doing is right. But if what you are doing is nice, it will be immediately evident.

People don't know how to behave in public anymore.

I think the thing I miss most in our age is our manners. It sounds so old-fashioned in a way. But even bad people had good manners in the old days, and manners hold a community together, and manners hold a family together; in a way, they hold the world together.

Respect for right conduct is felt by every body.

There are major C.E.O.'s who do not know how to hold a knife and fork properly, but I don't worry about that as much as the lack of kindness.

Manners easily and rapidly mature into morals.

In life, if you have an enthusiasm for what they call 'good manners,' sometimes people don't quite believe you. I've had that once or twice before, where they assume you can't be for real.

People are pretty respectful for the most part.

The best mannered people make the most absurd lovers.

Etiquette is all human social behavior. If you're a hermit on a mountain, you don't have to worry about etiquette; if somebody comes up the mountain, then you've got a problem. It matters because we want to live in reasonably harmonious communities.

Nothing is less important than which fork you use. Etiquette is the science of living. It embraces everything. It is ethics. It is honor.