CHAMELEONS & PLAYERS
CHINA: INFERIOR IMPORTS
CHURCH HISTORY
CHURCH & STATE
DEPRESSION
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
ETIQUETTE IN PUBLIC
GOVERNMENT
ELECTED OFFICIALS
FOSSIL FUELS
GREEN ENERGY
HOMOSEXUALITY & THE BIBLE
HONOR & INTEGRITY
IGNORANCE IS NOT AN STD
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
INTERNET BUYER BEWARE
I LEFT MYSPACE BEHIND
LABOR DAY
LAW OF THE LAND
LOVE: THINGS TO AVOID
PRINCIPLES
OF PERSONALITY
PROGRESSIVE FAITH
PROTECTION FROM BULLIES
P.T.S.D.
RELATIONSHIPS
DIVIDING THE WORD
RULES OF CIVILITY
SEPTEMBER 11
SUICIDE
TITHING
U.F.O. MYSTERY
VOTING HOLIDAY |
George Washington's Rules of Civility
This document was found in one of George Washington's notebooks.
Written when he was around 14 years old.
1. Every action in company ought to be with some sign of respect to
those present.
2. In the presence of others sing not to yourselves with a humming
voice, nor drum with your fingers or feet.
3. Speak not when others speak, sit not when others stand, and walk not
when others stop.
4.
Turn not your back to others, especially in speaking; jog not the table
or desk on which another reads or writes; lean not on anyone.
5. Be no flatterer, neither play with anyone that delights not to be
played with.
6.
Read no letters, books or papers in company; but when there is a
necessity for doing it, you must ask leave. Come not near the books or
writings of anyone so as to read them unasked; also look not nigh when
another is writing a letter.
7. Let your countenance be pleasant, but in serious matters somewhat
grave.
8. Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another, though he were
your enemy.
9.
They that are in dignity or office have in all places precedency, but
whilst they are young, they ought to respect those that are their
equals in birth or other qualities, though they have no public charge.
10.
It is good manners to prefer them to whom we speak before ourselves,
especially if they be above us, with whom in no sort we ought to begin.
11. Let your discourse with men of business be short and comprehensive.
12. In visiting the sick do not presently play the physician if you be
not knowing therein.
13. In writing or speaking give to every person his due title according
to his degree and the custom of the place.
14. Strive not with your superiors in argument, but always submit your
judgment to others with modesty.
15. Undertake not to teach your equal in the art he himself professes;
it savors of arrogance.
16. When a man does all he can, though it succeeds not well, blame not
him that did it.
17.
Being to advise or reprehend anyone, consider whether it ought to be in
public or in private, presently or at some other time, also in what
terms to do it; and in reproving show no signs of choler, but do it
with sweetness and mildness.
18. Mock not nor jest at anything of
importance; break no jests that are sharp or biting; and if you deliver
anything witty or pleasant, abstain from laughing thereat yourself.
19. Wherein you reprove another be unblamable yourself, for example is
more prevalent than precept.
20. Use no reproachful language against anyone, neither curses nor
revilings.
21. Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement of
anyone.
22.
In your apparel be modest, and endeavor to accommodate nature rather
than procure admiration. Keep to the fashion of your equals, such as
are civil and orderly with respect to time and place.
23. Play not
the peacock, looking everywhere about you to see if you be well decked,
if your shoes fit well, if your stocking set neatly and clothes
handsomely.
24. Associate yourself with men of good quality if you
esteem your own reputation, for it is better to be alone than in bad
company.
25. Let your conversation be without malice or envy, for it
is a sign of tractable and commendalbe nature; and in all causes of
passion admit reason to govern.
26. Be not immodest in urging your friend to discover a secret.
27.
Utter not base and frivolous things amongst grown and learned men, nor
very difficult questions or subjects amongst the ignorant, nor things
hard to be believed.
28. Speak not of doleful things in time of
mirth nor at the table; speak not of melancholy things, as death and
wounds; and if others mention them, change, if you can, the discourse.
Tell not your dreams but to your intimate friends.
29. Break not a
jest when none take pleasure in mirth. Laugh not aloud, nor at all
without occasion. Deride no man's misfortunes, thought there seem to be
some cause.
30. Speak not injurious words, neither in jest or earnest. Scoff at
none, although they give occasion.
31.
Be not forward, but friendly and courteous, the first to salute, hear
and answer, and be not pensive when it is time to converse.
32. Detract not from others, but neither be excessive in commending.
33.
Go not thither were you know not whether you shall be welcome or not.
Give not advice without being asked; and when desired, do it briefly.
34.
If two contend together, take not the part of either unconstrained, and
be not obstinate in your opinion; in things indifferent be of the major
side.
35. Rprehend not the imperfection of others, for that belongs to
parents, masters, and superiors.
36.
Gaze not on the marks or blemishes of others, and ask not how they
came. What you may speak in secret to your friend deliver not before
others.
37. Speak not in an unknown tongue in company, but in your
own language; and that as those of quality do, and not as the vulgar.
Sublime matters treat seriously.
38. Think before you speak; pronounce not imperfectly, nor bring out
your words too hastily, but orderly and distinctly.
39.
When another speaks, be attentive yourself, and disturb not the
audience. If any hesitate in his words, help him not, nor prompt him
without being desired; interrupt him not, nor answer him till his
speech be ended.
40. Treat with mean at fit times about business, and whisper not in the
company of others.
41. Make no comparisons; and if any of the company be commended for any
brave act of virtue, commend not another for the same.
42.
Be not apt to relate news if you know not the truth thereof. In
discoursing of things you have heard, name not your author always. A
secret discover not.
43. Be not curious to know the affairs of others, neither approach to
those that speak in private.
44. Undertake not what you cannot perform; but be careful to keep your
promise.
45. When you deliver a matter, do it without passion and indiscretion,
however mean the person may be you do it to.
46. When your superiors talk to anybody, hear them; neither speak or
laugh.
47.
In disputes be not so desirous to overcome as not to give liberty to
each one to deliver his opinion, and submit to the judgment of the
major part, especially if they are judges of the dispute.
48. Be not tedious in discourse, make not many digressions, nor repeat
often the same matter of discourse.
49. Speak no evil of the absent, for it is unjust.
50.
Be not angry at table, whatever happens; and if you have reson to be so
show not; put on a cheerful countenance, especially if there be
strangers, for good humor makes one dish a feast.
51. Set not
yourself at the upper end of the table; but if it be your due, or the
master of the house will have it so, contend not, lest you should
trouble the company.
52. When you speak of G*d or his attributes, let it be seriously, in
reverence and honor, and obey your natural parents.
53. Let your recreations be manful, not sinful.
54. Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial
fire called conscience.
Taken from the book:
The Book of Virtues
William J. Bennett
pgs 74-78
ISBN:0-671-68306-3
1993
|
