A WELLMANNERED AND COURTEOUS PERSON IS A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD

While it is true that there is no law which compels us to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, courteous words like these are the ‘small change’ to pave our way as social beings. The first requirement of civility is that we should acknowledge a service. Courteous behaviour leads to an easy ‘give and take’ relationship. Courtesies of trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in other’s hearts. It is these little courtesies which keep life’s machine oiled and running smoothly.

But, at the same time, the test of good manners is to be patient with the bad ones. If we stick with our courtesies even in the face of provocation, we find that even the most ‘difficult’ and ‘fastidious’ people can be won over. Thus, courtesies never go waste. Moreover, courtesies are contagious.

Being exposed to good manners, people are more likely to behave properly and observe decorum. It would be an unusually uncouth person who can be violently disagreeable with genteel people.

Good manners, like good weather, cheer up one’s spirits.

A well-mannered person descends on even the gloomiest of us with something of the benediction of a fine day. The great essayist and moral teacher Francis Bacon once said, “If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows that he is a citizen of the world.” Make sure you are.