Comments on: The Unclassified Laws of Etiquette

By: Nicholas

Nicholas — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:57:37 +0000

My favourite is:

“Never associate with bad company. Have good company, or none.”

By: FC Lurker

FC Lurker — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:42:36 +0000

Rather than a list of “nevers,” I’d like to see a list of “always.”

By: Jeffrey K

Jeffrey K — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:44:59 +0000

I especially appreciate the one about traveling abroad, because as an American. I feel as if I need to be highly respectful of other countries when traveling, as often my countrymen are thought of poorly in this category.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:41:32 +0000

This is a great list, and I will refer to it often. However, the first verb is misspelled. Please look again at exaggerate, and then feel free to delete this comment. Thank you so much for your insightful and useful website.

By: Robin

Robin — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:11:38 +0000

Never whisper to someone when there are other persons present.

By: Dino

Dino — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 14:35:23 +0000

Never, when traveling abroad, be over boastful in praise of your own country

My favourite, seeing as I constantly encounter foreign people here in the UK who go on and on about how much better their country is than Britain – if you don’t like it here pal then go home.

By the way I’m Italian by birth

By: Michael Moon

Michael Moon — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:47:10 +0000

This post is a gift. Thank you, Brett. Duly noted and accepted with pleasure.

By: Mike M.

Mike M. — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:23:13 +0000

I don’t think there is anyone alive who can honestly say they have done all of these. Certainly I can’t.

But that fact should not dissuade us from trying.

By: Mario Bertoluzzi

Mario Bertoluzzi — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:08:34 +0000

How great, Brett. Thank you for your service to us! You dig up these great things. I read this with my wife and we very much enjoyed it.

By: Virilitas

Virilitas — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:48:29 +0000

@Mike: I have read that Washington copied out the rules (from the Jesuit book) by hand in order to learn them. Thanks to Art of Manliness, we have additional rules to copy out and to let sink in. For maximum efficiency, I like to combine that sort of repetitive-writing, memory exercise with penmanship practice.

By: Mike J

Mike J — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:19:38 +0000

Rod Newbound, above, mentioned George Washington. If you like this kind of book, then his ‘Rules of Civility’ is a must read. Interestingly enough, this set of rules was itself based on another book by French Jesuit priests that Washington had read as a young man. I’m sure we could trace them back even farther to Greek philosophers and beyond, so I’m so glad you posted this article. It is so important to keep these traditions alive.

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:17:25 +0000

I especially like the rule about leaving a postage stamp in letters you send asking for help. I know it really doesn’t apply now but I found it cleverly polite.

By: Rod Newbound, RN

Rod Newbound, RN — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:42:33 +0000

An interesting find. Thanks for sharing Brett & Kate.

One which immediately jumped out at me is: “Never associate with bad company. Have good company, or none.”

It reflects a saying of George Washington: “Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for ’tis better to be alone than in bad company.”

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:42:22 +0000

This was definitely my favorite:

“Never attempt to convey the impression that you are a genius, by imitating the faults of distinguished men. Because certain great men were poor penmen, wore long hair, or had other peculiarities, it does not follow that you will be great by imitating their eccentricities.”

I know a lot of guys who need this advice.

By: Jsthegr8

Jsthegr8 — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:40:51 +0000

Thank YOUS