Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use. ~Emily Post
Sometimes when we speak about manners or etiquette, these detailed little rules about which fork or which kind of glass to use at a fancy dinner are what we think about. Those kinds of rules can be daunting when one isn't used to fine dining or moving in high society. And many rules are simpler than they seem too. But honestly, using the wrong fork at dinner or not being able to curtsey correctly and gracefully are not make or break moments for the vast majority of us.
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Fortunately, there's an abundance of tutorial videos all over the internet to show ladies how to sit and walk elegantly, to show us all how to use a fork and knife in proper continental style, and how to handle awkward conversations with grace and self-respect. About a week ago, suggested videos started showing up in one of my social media feeds that I thought were actually very sweet. An etiquette school! The first one I saw showed the Miss Manners type instructor with a classroom of little girls in school uniforms, and she was showing them how to pick up something from the floor in a ladylike way, so that their skirts weren't flipping up and showing too much. It was darling! A couple other reels showing the same lady instructor have popped up too, demonstrating things like how to properly eat salad without looking like a savage. These are little things, but I couldn't help but think how practical too! How many of us have been anxious about going on a date or going to an important social event because we don't feel totally comfortable with our ability to eat pasta or soup or a bone-in chicken breast without making a mess? I'll admit I have!
I do think that in general, society would benefit from all of us practicing better manners and social niceties. Greeting and addressing people graciously, respecting authorities and behaving properly in public, being helpful and courteous to others, and respecting others and their property - none of these things should be difficult and yet every day we see another story on social media about people behaving in shameful and uncivilized ways towards others. Obviously the stories and videos that circulate the most feature the worst of the worst behaviors, and that's not the majority of people, but it does indicate that a lack of respect and self-discipline is far too common.
The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any. ~Fred Astaire
If that was true in Fred Astaire's day, how much harder is it nowadays?! Aside from behaving properly ourselves, and teaching our own children to behave properly, I don't know what we can do to promote gracious manners. Good manners and etiquette are mostly a matter of self-respect and respect for others. Being considerate of the other person and what would help them feel more comfortable in a social or business setting. Being kind and patient and not being selfish.
Good manners are just a way of showing other people that we have respect for them. ~Bill Kelly
"The great secret, Eliza, is not having bad manners or good manners or any other particular sort of manners, but having the same manner for all human souls: in short, behaving as if you were in Heaven, where there are no thirdclass carriages, and one soul is as good as another." ~George Bernard Shaw
Good manners never go out of style! Perhaps all we need to do is change our mindset. See the good, and choose to think kindly of others, and the way we think will affect the way we act.
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable ― if there is any moral exellence and if there is anything praiseworthy ― dwell on these things.
~Philippians 4:8~
As I often do, I'll close with a couple of humorous quotes about manners, so we can laugh politely together!
Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person. ~Mark Twain
The world was my oyster but I used the wrong fork. ~Oscar Wilde
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Wednesday Quotes 2025 Themes
January 8 - Planning Ahead/Setting Goals
January 22 - Winter Sleep
February 5 - Love Inspires Us
February 19 - Staying Balanced
March 5 - First Impressions
March 19 - Looking After Yourself
April 2 - Competition
April 16 - Spring Colours
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September 17 - Making and Keeping Promises
October 1 - Autumn/Another Spring
October 15 - Daily Bread
October 29 - Night Skies/Stargazing
November 12 - Good Manners
November 26 - Celebrating Holidays
December 10 - Winter Wonderland
December 24 - Holiday Memories
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