When Virtues Are Pointed Out First, Flaws

The Idea That People Can Behave Naturally, Without Resorting To An Artificial Code Tacitly Agreed Upon By Their Society, Is As Silly As The Idea That They Can Communicate By A Spoken Language Without Commonly Accepted Semantic And Grammatical Rules.

It Is Wrong To Wear Diamonds Before Luncheon, Except On One’s Marriage Rings. Before, After, And During Breakfast, Luncheon And Dinner, It Is Vulgar To Wear A Mixture Of Colored Precious Stones. It Is Always A Comfort To Know That So Many Things One Can’t Afford To Do Anyway Are Vulgar.

It Has Always Puzzled Me, In My Business, That People Think They Have To Answer Questions, No Matter How Disagreeable Or Dangerous, Just Because They Were Asked. Of Course, We Journalists Would Be Out Of Business If They Didn't.

The Challenge Of Manners Is Not So Much To Be Nice To Someone Whose Favor And/or Person You Covet (although More People Need To Be Reminded Of That Necessity Than One Would Suppose) As To Be Exposed To The Bad Manners Of Others Without Imitating Them.

When People Start Hurling Insults At You, You Know Their Minds Are Closed And There's No Point In Debating. You Disengage Yourself As Quickly As Possible From The Situation.