Emily Post Quotes

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.

Good manners reflect something from inside-an innate sense of consideration for others and respect for self.

Nothing is less important than which fork you use. Etiquette is the science of living. It embraces everything. It is ethics. It is honor.

To make a pleasant and friendly impression is not alone good manners, but equally good business.

Manners are made up of trivialities of deportment which can be easily learned if one does not happen to know them; manner is personality - the outward manifestation of one's innate character and attitude toward life.... Etiquette must, if it is to be of more than trifling use, include ethics as well as manners. Certainly what one is, is of far greater importance than what one appears to be.

If you are hurt, whether in mind or body, don't nurse your bruises. Get up, and light-heartedly, courageously, good-temperedly, get ready for the next encounter.

The attributes of a great lady may still be found in the rule of the four S's: Sincerity, Simplicity, Sympathy, and Serenity.

The only occasion when the traditions of courtesy permit a hostess to help herself before a woman guest is when she has reason to believe the food is poisoned.

A gentleman does not boast about his junk.

Manner is personality—the outward manifestation of one’s innate character and attitude toward life.

Never think, because you cannot write a letter easily, that it is better not to write at all. The most awkward note imaginable is better than none.

Whenever two people come together and their behavior affects one another, you have etiquette.

Never take more than your share - whether of the road in driving your car, of chairs on a boat or seats on a train, or food at the table.

It is impossible for a hatless woman to be chic.

Manners are like primary colors, there are certain rules and once you have these you merely mix, i.e., adapt, them to meet changing situations.

Any child can be taught to be beautifully behaved with no effort greater than quiet patience and perseverance, whereas to break bad habits once they are acquired is a Herculean task.

Nothing appeals to children more than justice, and they should be taught in the nursery to "play fair" in games, to respect each other's property and rights, to give credit to others, and not to take too much credit to themselves.

The honor of a gentleman demands the inviolability of his word, and the incorruptibility of his principles. He is the descendent of the knight, the crusader; he is the defender of the defenseless and the champion of justice--or he is not a gentleman.

If God had intended for women to wear slacks, He would have constructed them differently.

"Keep your hands to yourself!" might almost be put at the head of the first chapter of every book on etiquette.

Houses without personality are a series of walled enclosures with furniture standing around in them. Other houses are filled with things of little intrinsic value, even with much that is shabby and yet they have that inviting atmosphere.

The joy of joys is the person of light but unmalicious humor.

Jealousy is the suspicion of one's own inferiority.

A gentleman should never take his hat off with a flourish.

Bread is like dressed, hats and shoes - in other words, essential!