Politeness Quotes - Page 4

• A polite enemy is just as difficult to discredit, as a rude friend is to protect.

  Bryant H. McGill

  Rude, Enemy, Literature

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• In one period the grossest ignorance and barbarism prevailed in the world; and afterwards, in a more enlightened age, the most daring infidelity, and contempt of God; so that the world which was once over-run with ignorance, now by wisdom knew not God, but changed the glory of the incorruptible God as much as in the most barbarous ages, into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Nay, as they increased in science and politeness, they ran into more abundant and extravagant idolatries.

  William Carey

  Running, Ignorance, Men

  "An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians". Book by William Carey, 1792.

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  You can do a lot more with weapons and politeness than just politeness.

  Vladimir Putin

  Weapons, Can Do

  "Meeting U.S. Envoy, Putin Appears to Soften His Tone". www.nytimes.com. November 19, 2014.

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• Courtesy is the bedrock of social interchange. No matter what you're doing, even if you're fomenting revolution, you can still be courteous.

  Joan M. Drury

  Revolution, Matter, Courtesy

  Joan M. Drury (2000). “Those Jordan Girls”, Spinsters Ink Books

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• True politeness consists in being easy one's self, and in making every one about one as easy as one can.

  Alexander Pope

  Self, Literature, Easy

  "Familiar Short Sayings of Great Men". Book by Samuel Arthur Bent, p. 451, 1887.

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• true courtesy ... is real kindness kindly expressed.

  Julia McNair Wright

  Kindness, Real, Courtesy

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• Politeness, n: The most acceptable hypocrisy.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Hypocrisy, Manners, Etiquette

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.184, University of Georgia Press

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• For me, politeness is a sine qua non of civilization.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Civilization, Atheism, Polite

  Robert A. Heinlein (1960). “Beyond This Horizon”, Roc

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• Conversation was never begun at once, nor in a hurried manner. No one was quick with a question, no matter how important, and no one was pressed for an answer. A pause giving time for thought was the truly courteous way of beginning and conducting a conversation. Silence was meaningful with the Lakota, and his granting a space of silence to the speech-maker and his own moment of silence before talking was done in the practice of true politeness and regard for the rule that, "thought comes before speech."

  Luther Standing Bear

  Meaningful, Native American, Space

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• That roguish and cheerful vice, politeness.

  Friedrich Nietzsche

  Cheerful, Vices, Cheerfulness

  Friedrich Nietzsche (2016). “Beyond Good and Evil”, p.179, Friedrich Nietzsche

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• Politeness is a desire to be treated politely, and to be esteemed polite oneself.

  Francois de La Rochefoucauld

  Desire, Polite, Treated

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• It is wise to apply the oil of refined politeness to the mechanisms of friendship.

  Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

  Friendship, Best Friend, Wise

  "The Pure and the Impure". Book by Sidonie Gabrielle Colette, 1932.

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

  Otto von Bismarck

  Military, War, Writing

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• Politeness is not always a sign of wisdom; but the want of it always leaves room for a suspicion of folly, if folly and imprudence are the same.

  Walter Savage Landor

  Want, Rooms, Suspicion

  Walter Savage Landor (1856). “Selections from the Writings of Walter Savage Landor”, p.194

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• Politeness is an inexpensive way to make friends.

  William Feather

  Friendship, Way, Inexpensive

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• Politeness is deception in pretty packaging.

  Veronica Roth

  Deception, Packaging

  Veronica Roth (2013). “The Divergent Series Complete Collection: Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant”, p.44, Harper Collins

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• Politeness costs nothing. Nothing, that is, to him that shows it; but if often costs the world very dear.

  William Allingham

  Cost, World, Dear

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• Callousness and insolence bring to bare unanimous social condemnation, while the simple efforts of politeness are admired; even in those who are otherwise despised.

  Bryant H. McGill

  Simple, Effort, Social

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• Politeness and a sense of honor have this advantage: we bestow them on others without losing a thing.

  Baltasar Gracian

  Honor, Losing, Advantage

  "The Art of Worldly Wisdom". Book by Baltasar Gracián. Maxim 118, 1647.

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• Good-breeding is not confined to externals, much less to any particular dress or attitude of the body; it is the art of pleasing, or contributing as much as possible to the ease and happiness of those with whom you converse.

  Henry Fielding

  Art, Attitude, Dresses

  Henry Fielding, Arthur Murphy (1816). “The Works of Henry Fielding, Esq: With an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.196

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• It is a wise thing to be polite; consequently, it is a stupid thing to be rude. To make enemies by unnecessary and willful incivility, is just as insane a proceeding as to set your house on fire. For politeness is like a counter--an avowedly false coin, with which it is foolish to be stingy.

  Arthur Schopenhauer

  Wise, Stupid, Fire

  Arthur Schopenhauer (2012). “Collected Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer”, p.58, Simon and Schuster

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• Unfortunately civility is hard to codify or legislate, but you know it when you see it. It's possible to disagree without being disagreeable.

  Sandra Day O'Connor

  Conflict, Civility, Manners

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• Amazing what the British do with language; the nuances of politeness. The world's great diplomats, surely.

  Anne Rice

  World, Diplomats, Nuance

  Anne Rice (2010). “The Queen of the Damned”, p.444, Ballantine Books

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• People should be left to believe what they like, so long as they harm no one else. Apart from normal expectations of politeness, it is not however clear why people should require their personal beliefs to be treated with special sensitivity by others, to the point that if others fail to tip-toe respectfully around them they will start throwing bombs.

  A.C. Grayling

  Believe, Long, People

  A. C. Grayling (2004). “Life, Sex and Ideas: The Good Life Without God”, p.130, Oxford University Press, USA

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• Honesty is good sense, politeness, amiableness,--all in one.

  Samuel Richardson

  Honesty, Good Sense

  Samuel Richardson (1810). “The History of Sir Charles Grandison: In a Series of Letters”, p.386

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