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When you consider how epidemic boredom is in our time, you have to concede that entertaining is a healing art.

Judith Martin

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Judith Martin
Age: 86
Born: 1938
Born: September 13
Economist
Journalist
Washington
District of Columbia
Consider
Art
Time
Concede
Epidemic
Epidemics
Entertaining
Boredom
Healing

More quotes by Judith Martin

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Most people who work at home find they do not have the benefit of receptionists who serve as personal guards
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The etiquette of intimacy is very different from the etiquette of formality, but manners are not just something to show off to the outside world. If you offend the head waiter, you can always go to another restaurant. If you offend the person you live with, it's very cumbersome to switch to a different family.
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We are all entitled to our little harmless habits, but we are not entitled to demand approval for them.
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I make a distinction between manners and etiquette - manners as the principles, which are eternal and universal, etiquette as the particular rules which are arbitrary and different in different times, different situations, different cultures.
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You do not have to do everything disagreeable that you have a right to do
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Meanwhile, the empty forms of social behavior survive inappropriately in business situations. We all know that when a business sends its customers 'friendly reminders,' it really means business.
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I have always believed that the key to a happy marriage was the ability to say with a straight face, 'Why, I don't know what you're worrying about. I thought you were very funny last night and I'm sure everybody else did, too.
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Society cannot exist without etiquette ... It never has, and until our own century, everybody knew that.
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What restricts the use of the word 'lady' among the courteous is that it is intended to set a woman apart from ordinary humanity, and in the working world that is not a help, as women have discovered in many bitter ways.
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It's far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help.
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Being listened to should be sufficiently gratifying in itself, whether or not the advice is followed.
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We are born charming fresh and spontaneous and must be civilized before we are fit to participate in society.
Judith Martin
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There are three social classes in America: upper middle class, middle class, and lower middle class.
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The truly essential bargain between host and guest requires the guest only to respond promptly, show up on time, socialize with other guests, thank the host, write additional thanks and reciprocate. You needn't bring anything.
Judith Martin
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Hypocrisy is not generally a social sin, but a virtue.
Judith Martin
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You think death is any better an excuse for desertion than any other?
Judith Martin
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Washington knows that it is not safe to kick people who are down until you find out what their next stop will be.
Judith Martin
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Parents should conduct their arguments in quiet, respectful tones, but in a foreign language. You'd be surprised what an inducement that is to the education of children.
Judith Martin
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many of the guests will eventually leave the table to watch football on television, which would be a rudeness at any other occasion but is a relief at Thanksgiving and probably the only way to get those people to budge.
Judith Martin
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When a society abandons its ideals just because most people can't live up to them, behavior gets very ugly indeed.
Judith Martin