Jonathan Swift Quotes

Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people's bad manners.

Politeness, n: The most acceptable hypocrisy.

I don't know where, or by whom, Judge Wapner was raised, but my parents taught me, when you don't have something nice to say about someone, say nothing.

Politeness is sometimes a great tax upon sincerity.

Politeness is half good manners and half good lying.

To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered.

The greater the controversy, the more you need manners.

It is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are they the result of previous study?

It is more comfortable for me, in the long run, to be rude than polite.

Politeness is only one half good manners and the other half good lying.

Be polite; write diplomatically; even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of politeness.

Minimum information given with maximum politeness.

We tell only part of a man's qualities in his presence, and all of them when he is not present.

It's nice to compliment people on what they're wearing, but don't make insincere compliments.

I call people 'captain' a lot and it makes them feel special. Until they hear me using it for everyone, that is.

I get a choice every time I have to open my mouth: that it can be with civility and dignity and grace - or not.

None but an ass pays a compliment and asks a favour at the same time. There are many asses.

Manners are a way of getting what you want without appearing to be an absolute swine.

There can be no defence like elaborate courtesy.

I learned how to deal with people with elegance from Patrick Swayze.

The English are polite by telling lies. The Americans are polite by telling the truth.

But my father was also the one who told me I needed to clean up my mouth or I'd never find a man. What's very important to him is manners. Show up on time. Always send thank-you letters. He is one of the more thoughtful humans I've ever met. He's a great man and a very good dad.

Father told me that if I ever met a lady in a dress like yours, I must look her straight in the eyes.

I find it upsetting to see the erosion of manners. It's very scary. Where are the 'pleases' and 'thank yous?'

Etiquette does not render you defenseless. If it did, even I wouldn't subscribe to it. But rudeness in retaliation for rudeness just doubles the amount of rudeness in the world.