I make a distinction between manners and etiquette - manners as the principles, which are eternal and universal, etiquette as the particular rules which are arbitrary and different in different times, different situations, different cultures. Judith Martin arbitraryculturedistinction share on social
Obviously I'm going to be polite, so nobody has anything to fear from me. Judith Martin fearpolite Change image and share on social
Chaperons don't enforce morality; they force immorality to be discreet. Judith Martin chaperondiscreetenforce Change image and share on social
Presents are symbolic. When you give them in your personal life, they should show that you are paying attention to the person to whom you're giving them. Judith Martin attentiongivelife Change image and share on social
When a society abandons its ideals just because most people can't live up to them, behavior gets very ugly indeed. Judith Martin abandonbehaviorideal Change image and share on social
Most people who work at home find they do not have the benefit of receptionists who serve as personal guards. Judith Martin benefitfindguard Change image and share on social
Etiquette is all human social behavior. If you're a hermit on a mountain, you don't have to worry about etiquette; if somebody comes up the mountain, then you've got a problem. It matters because we want to live in reasonably harmonious communities. Judith Martin behaviorcommunityetiquette share on social
We're now seeing email that people thought they had deleted showing up as evidence in court. You can't erase email. As that becomes more commonly realized, people will be a little wiser about what they type. Judith Martin commonlycourtdelete share on social
Chaperons, even in their days of glory, were almost never able to enforce morality; what they did was to force immorality to be discreet. This is no small contribution. Judith Martin chaperoncontributionday Change image and share on social
