bobbyjohn Loc: Dallas, TX

Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior In Company & Conversation

by George Washington

The first president of the United States, George Washington, was indeed a great American patriot, despite how some on the radical left today try to smear him. Washington had other lesser known qualities, like his ability to pen his thoughts on behavior. He wrote a short book entitled “Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation” which contains 110 gems of his wisdom. Below are a small sampling of Washington’s thoughts on human behavior.

The original punctuation and spelling from his writings have been preserved.
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1. Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present.

5. If You Cough, Sneeze, Sigh, or Yawn, do it not Loud but Privately; and Speak not in your Yawning, but put Your handkerchief or Hand before your face and turn aside.

7. Put not off your Cloths in the presence of Others, nor go out your Chamber half Dressed.

10. When you Sit down, Keep your Feet firm and Even, without putting one on the other or Crossing them.

17. Keep your Nails clean and Short, also your Hands and Teeth Clean yet without Showing any great Concern for them.

25. Superfluous Complements and all Affectation of Ceremony are to be avoided, yet where due they are not to be Neglected.

29. When you meet with one of Greater Quality than yourself, Stop, and retire especially if it be at a Door or any Straight place to give way for him to Pass.

35. Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.

36. Artificers & Persons of low Degree ought not to use many ceremonies to Lords, or Others of high Degree but Respect and highly Honor them, and those of high Degree ought to treat them with affability & Courtesy, without Arrogance.

44. When a man does all he can though it Succeeds not well blame not him that did it.

48. Wherein you reprove Another be unblameable yourself; for example is more prevalent than Precepts.

51. Wear not your Cloths, foul, ripped or Dusty but See they be Brushed once every day at least and take heed that you approach not to any Uncleaness.

52. In your Apparel be Modest and endeavor to accommodate Nature, rather than to procure Admiration keep to the Fashion of your equals Such as are Civil and orderly with respect to Times and Places.

56. Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own Reputation; for ‘is better to be alone than in bad Company.

60. Be not immodest in urging your Friends to Discover a Secret.

70. Reprehend not the imperfections of others for that belongs to Parents Masters and Superiors.

72. 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.

76. While you are talking, Point not with your Finger at him of Whom you Discourse nor Approach too near him to whom you talk especially to his face.

79. 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.

82. Undertake not what you cannot Perform but be Careful to keep your Promise.

83. When you deliver a matter do it without Passion & with Discretion, however mean the Person be you do it too.

85. In Company of these of Higher Quality than yourself Speak not til you are asked a Question then Stand upright put of your Hat & Answer in few words.

97. Put not another bit into your mouth till the former be swallowed. Let not your morsels be too big for the jowls.

108. When you speak of God or his attributes, let it be seriously & with reverence. Honor & obey your natural parents although they be poor.

110. Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

fantom Loc: Colorado

Further proof that Washington was a conservative right wing, racist, fascist and had no business being president. Thank goodness we are done with him and can rely on the bidens, peloosi's, aoc's and assorted socialists. We need to purge his name, and all writings and sayings from our records in accordance with with directives from our red russian inspired commie masters.

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

Washington was a man, made great because of combination unique qualities, some good some not so good, but a man that I believe evolved in his beliefs as he became older. He was not perfect as most of us are not but full filled the duty of leader with his strict discipline which was needed at time. Our founding fathers were mortals that give us great form of government which I do not believe we have been good stewards of. We all want the government to be ever thing to every one and that is not to be possible.

CWGordon

I am unsure as to what y’all are trying to show here. It sounds like most of this is probably pretty stupid stuff w/o any real reason for its’ publishing!

fantom Loc: Colorado

Well said.

ragon Loc: Wisconsin

I must save this for future use on left wing sites I troll.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

This is sound top down policy for all to practice
Most especially to be practiced by those powerful leaders whose actions are often emulated by others
Suggest you tweet it on to the White House & hope for the best
Good luck!!

fantom Loc: Colorado

Or send it to pelosi and the other dimocrat congressional wackos and to the umpteen dimo presidential wannabes.
Of course it won't be read but it will give them more things to distort and whine about.

CWGordon

If there is one person out there who is nasty, disrespectful and
incredibly uncivil it is your cult leader. You may not AGREE with the Democrats, but they have tried to be tactful and courteous in their disagreement with the vitriol expressed by your cult leader. We doubt he even knows who George Washington is or how to spell his name. At best, he might think he has heard the guy is doing a good job.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I seem to remember reading that he wrote these as a teenager or early 20s at the most.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Also remember that to be true
However --
A Policy Of Civility he little deviated from when he matured
A Civil Founding Father
What a good policy for any Commander & Chief to practice !!

quagmire Loc: Greenwood,South Carolina

He mentioned people of better quality several times. He didn't think equal?

CWGordon

Our leaders, past and present, do not always live up to the image we learn as we grow up and the history we were taught. They are no better than anyone else. They have their good points and bad. Some better than most and others worse. The best should be revered, the worst recognized. Those in-between should have noted their positive contributions remembered and their negative ones never forgotten.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

You are talking about an 18th Century man. The culture was different, the thinking was different and they were raised and lived their lives immersed in that culture and thinking. You cannot judge other times and places by your own modern thought. You can say something they thought and did is not right by our modern mores but you should not judge the people because they lived in and by the norms of their times.

And that culture did produce many great ideas, many of which we haven't even finished implementing today. It is still a work in progress. What counts is the "progress" part.
"That all men are created equal." They knew it wasn't a fact yet, it was a goal to work towards. They also knew it was not a statement of real equality in all things. It was an equality of the right to strive to the best of your ability. Equality of rights, not equality of results. Equality of results is an impossible idea. Would you care to go a round or two with the heavyweight boxing champion? That will prove that you and he are not equal physically and athletically but you do have the same rights.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Well written!!!!!
Sad that so many people do not understand.