Martine's Hand-Book Of Etiquette, And Guide To True Politeness Quotes

“Politeness must be cultivated, for the promptings of nature are eminently selfish, and courtesy and good-breeding are only attainable by effort and discipline. But even courtesy has limits where dignity should govern it, for when carried to excess, particularly in manner, it borders on sycophancy, which is almost as despicable as rudeness.”
― Arthur Martine, Martine's Hand-Book Of Etiquette, And Guide To True Politeness

“The natural flow of discourse must be calm and serene; if wit, whim, fun and fire are present, they will not fail to flash brightly along its surface; but they can never constitute the main body of the stream itself.”
― Arthur Martine, Martine's Hand-Book Of Etiquette, And Guide To True Politeness

“Lord Chesterfield advises his son “to speak often, but not to speak much at a time; so that if he does not please, he will not at least displease to any great extent.”
Rousseau tells us, that, “persons who know little, talk a great deal, while those who know a great deal say very little.”
― Arthur Martine, Martine's Handbook of Etiquette

“In society, the object of conversation is of course entertainment and improvement, and it must, therefore, be adapted to the circle in which it is carried on, and must be neither too high nor too deep for the party at large, so that every one may contribute his share, just as pleasure, and to the best of his ability”
― Arthur Martine, Martine's Handbook of Etiquette