You learn, just as you learn good manners, how to approach things with a certain amount of diplomacy.

Don't misunderstand good manners for passivity.

Good manners are appreciated as much as bad manners are abhorred.

Then [good manners] must be inspired by the good heart. There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us.

It used to be just CIA agents with ear-pieces who walked round with preoccupied, faraway expressions, and consequently regarded all the little people as irrelevant scum. Now, understandably, it's nearly everybody.

You can get through life with bad manners, but it's easier with good manners.