Judith Martin Quotes - Page 5

Quotes about:

• The challenge of manners is not so much to be nice to someone whose favor and/or person you covet (although more people need to be reminded of that necessity than one would suppose) as to be exposed to the bad manners of others without imitating them.

  Judith Martin

  Nice, People, Challenges

  Judith Martin (1990). “Miss Manners' Guide for the Turn-of-the-Millennium”, p.121, Simon and Schuster

  4 Copy quote

• The truly essential bargain between host and guest requires the guest only to respond promptly, show up on time, socialize with other guests, thank the host, write additional thanks and reciprocate. You needn't bring anything.

  Judith Martin

  Women, Writing, Guests

  "Miss Manners: Guests aren’t required to bring gift to the host". www.journalnow.com. February 10, 2015.

  4 Copy quote

• People will say, 'Seventy isn't old, it's middle-aged,' and I think, middle of what - 140?

  Judith Martin

  Thinking, People, Middle

  4 Copy quote

• Fairness does not consist so much of everybody's doing the same thing, but of everybody's being willing to do something that others don't want to do.

  Judith Martin

  Doe, Want, Fairness

  5 Copy quote

• The one prediction that never comes true is, 'You'll thank me for telling you this.

  Judith Martin

  Predictions, Conversation, Busybodies

  8 Copy quote

• Visiting the sick is supposed to exhibit such great virtue that there are some people determined to do it whether the sick like it or not. ... All visitors everywhere are supposed to make plans to depart if they observe their hosts visibly wilting or in pain, but this is especially true at hospitals.

  Judith Martin

  Pain, People, Sick

  Judith Martin (1996). “Miss Manners Rescues Civilization: From Sexual Harassment, Frivolous Lawsuits, Dissing, and Other Lapses in Civility”, Crown

  4 Copy quote

• One of the big no-nos in cyberspace is that you do not go into a social activity, a chat group or something like that, and start advertising or selling things. This etiquette rule is an attempt to separate one's social life, which should be pure enjoyment and relaxation, from the pressures of work.

  Judith Martin

  Selling Things, Relaxation, Groups

  4 Copy quote

• It doesn't matter whether the bride or the bridegroom writes the letters of thanks for wedding presents provided that these go out immediately after the arrival of each present and are not in the handwriting of the bride's mother.

  Judith Martin

  Mother, Writing, Letters

  Jacobina Martin, Judith Martin (2010). “Miss Manners' Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding”, p.242, W. W. Norton & Company

  4 Copy quote

• The etiquette question that troubles so many fastidious people New Year's Day is: How am I ever going to face those people again?

  Judith Martin

  New Year, Years, People

  Judith Martin (2011). “Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior (Freshly Updated)”, p.780, W. W. Norton & Company

  5 Copy quote

• Knowing that others have gone through similar tragedies may be a help, but it should be remembered that every tragedy is not only commonplace but also unique.

  Judith Martin

  Unique, Knowing, Tragedy

  Judith Martin (1996). “Miss Manners Rescues Civilization: From Sexual Harassment, Frivolous Lawsuits, Dissing, and Other Lapses in Civility”, Crown

  4 Copy quote

• The invention of the teenager was a mistake. Once you identify a period of life in which people get to stay out late but don't have to pay taxes - naturally, no one wants to live any other way.

  Judith Martin

  Inspirational, Children, Growing Up

  7 Copy quote

• When someone has tried to please you, it is rude, as well as disheartening, to respond by announcing that the effort was a failure.

  Judith Martin

  Women, Effort, Rude

  8 Copy quote

• Whamming someone smaller than oneself in order to teach that person civilized behavior is not within Miss Manners' concept of propriety, much less logic.

  Judith Martin

  Order, Missing, Logic

  Judith Martin (2002). “Miss Manners' Guide to Rearing Perfect Children”, p.41, Simon and Schuster

  4 Copy quote

• The simple idea that everyone needs a reasonable amount of challenging work in his or her life, and also a personal life, complete with noncompetitive leisure, has never really taken hold.

  Judith Martin

  Inspirational, Taken, Simple

  Judith Martin (1996). “Common courtesy: in which Miss Manners solves the problem that baffled Mr. Jefferson”

  7 Copy quote

• Precision marching is less important for the bridal party than maintaining the proper facial expresssions: The bridegroom must look awed; the bridesmaids, happy and excited; the father of the bride, proud; and the bride, demure. If the bridegroom feels doubtful, the bridesmaids, sulky, the father, worried, and the bride, blasé, nobody wants to know.

  Judith Martin

  Father, Party, Important

  Judith Martin (1999). “Miss Manners on Weddings”, Crown

  9 Copy quote

• I have always believed that the key to a happy marriage was the ability to say with a straight face, 'Why, I don't know what you're worrying about. I thought you were very funny last night and I'm sure everybody else did, too.

  Judith Martin

  Night, Keys, Worry

  Judith Martin (1996). “Common courtesy: in which Miss Manners solves the problem that baffled Mr. Jefferson”

  7 Copy quote

• many of the guests will eventually leave the table to watch football on television, which would be a rudeness at any other occasion but is a relief at Thanksgiving and probably the only way to get those people to budge.

  Judith Martin

  Thanksgiving, Football, People

  4 Copy quote

• Sometimes we do things a certain way just because that is the way we do things.

  Judith Martin

  Women, Way, Sometimes

  4 Copy quote

• The most conventional statements are both true and welcome.

  Judith Martin

  Women, Welcome, Conventional

  4 Copy quote

• The stress of making small talk with in-laws is called being part of a family.

  Judith Martin

  Stress, Women, Law

  "Online posts reveal the dark side of sharing". www.chicagotribune.com. February 18, 2014.

  5 Copy quote

• Question- Should I loan a small amount of money to a friend? Answer- If you are sure that you can, if necessary, spare both.

  Judith Martin

  Women, Answers, Loan

  4 Copy quote

• When politeness is used to show up other people, it is reclassified as rudeness. Thus it is technically impossible to be too polite.

  Judith Martin

  People, Impossible, Rudeness

  Judith Martin (1996). “Miss Manners Rescues Civilization: From Sexual Harassment, Frivolous Lawsuits, Dissing, and Other Lapses in Civility”, Crown

  4 Copy quote

• Nowadays, you form your beliefs to fit your behavior, not the other way around.

  Judith Martin

  Way, Belief, Fit

  Judith Martin (1986). “Style and substance: a comedy of manners”, Scribner

  4 Copy quote

• We have the reverse of the Puritan work ethic in America now. No one ever becomes a star by plugging along year after year. What is needed is flair, talent, 'an eye,' contacts, charisma, and, most of all, naturalness.

  Judith Martin

  Stars, Eye, Years

  Judith Martin (1986). “Style and substance: a comedy of manners”, Scribner

  4 Copy quote

• Charming villains have always had a decided social advantage over well-meaning people who chew with their mouths open.

  Judith Martin

  People, Mouths, Villain

  Judith Martin (1996). “Common courtesy: in which Miss Manners solves the problem that baffled Mr. Jefferson”

  4 Copy quote

Page 5 of 6

First

← Prev

1

2

3

4

5

6

Next →

• facebook
• twitter
• googleplus
• email
• linkedin