If You Can't Be Kind, At Least

Shame Is The Proper Reaction When One Has Purposefully Violated The Accepted Behavior Of Society. Inflicting It Is Etiquette's Response When Its Rules Are Disobeyed. The Law Has All Kinds Of Nasty Ways Of Retaliating When It Is Disregarded, But Etiquette Has Only A Sense Of Social Shame To Deter People From Treating Others In Ways They Know Are Wrong. So Naturally Miss Manners Wants To Maintain The Sense Of Shame. Some Forms Of Discomfort Are Fully Justified, And The Person Who Feels Shame Ought To Be Dealing With Removing Its Causes Rather Than Seeking To Relieve The Symptoms.

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.

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.

There Are Always Proper Responses, Even To Rude Questions.

Washington Knows That It Is Not Safe To Kick People Who Are Down Until You Find Out What Their Next Stop Will Be.