My generation of radicals and breakers-down never found anything to take the place of the old virtues of work and courage and the old graces of courtesy and politeness.

Can he love her? Can the soul really be satisfied with such polite affections? To love is to burn - to be on fire, like Juliet or Guinevere or Eloise...

Politeness is the art of choosing among one's real thoughts.

Politeness goes far, yet costs nothing.

With hat in hand one gets on in the world.

Politeness costs little and yields much.

Politeness is the flower of humanity.

Now as to politeness ... I would venture to call it benevolence in trifles.

Politeness is benevolence in small things.

Anyone can be polite to a king. It takes a gentleman to be polite to a beggar.

Politeness is better than logic. You can often persuade when you cannot convince.