A proofread version of George Washington's Rules of Civility

1730's | George Washington

[re_tail20]

Today is George Washington’s Birthday. I thought I would post a proofread version of his famous Rules of Civility.

George Washington was a product of the time in which he lived, as are we. Grammar and Punctuation were much different 270 years ago than they are today. Periods and commas were not used in places where they are used today, and words that are not capitalized now were capitalized then. In some cases, I have substituted words. In some cases, I have left the original words.

Some of these translate well to today, and some don't. For example, the rules speak of “superiors” and “inferiors”. Many require factoring in the “norms” of the time in order to make sense of them

The original is available online for anyone wanting to do their own comparison.

Enjoy

1

Every action done in company should be done with some sign of respect to those who are present

2

When in company, don’t put your hands to any part of your body not usually discovered

3

Don’t show anything to your friend that may frighten him.

4

Don’t sing to yourself with a humming noise or drum with your fingers or feet when in the presence of others

5

If you cough, sneeze, sigh, or yawn, do it privately and softly.

Don’t speak in your yawning, but put your handkerchief or hand before your face and turn aside

6

Don’t sleep when others are speaking

Don’t sit when others are standing

Don’t speak when you should be quiet

Don’t walk on when others have stopped

7

Don’t take off your clothes in the presence of others or go out of your room half dressed

8

At play and sitting at the fireplace, it is good manners to give a place to the person who has come last

Don’t speak louder than ordinary

9

Don’t spit in the fire in the fireplace or stoop low before it

Don’t put your hands near the fire in the fireplace to warm them

Don’t set your feet near the fire in the fireplace, especially if there is meat before it.

10

When you sit down, keep your feet firm and even, without putting one on the other or crossing them

11

Don’t shift yourself in the sight of others or bite your fingernails

12

Don’t shake your head, feet, or legs

Don’t roll your eyes

Don’t lift one eyebrow higher than the other

Don’t wry your mouth

Don’t accidentally spit in anyone’s face by approaching too near that person when you speak.

13

Don’t kill any vermin such as fleas, lice, ticks, etc., in the sight of others

If you see any filth, put your foot dexterously upon it

If filth is on the clothes of your companions, brush it off privately

If filth is on your own clothes, give thanks to the person who brushes it off

14

Don’t turn your back to others, especially in speaking

Don’t jog the table or desk on which another person is reading or writing

Don’t lean upon anyone.

15

Keep your nails clean and short

Also keep your hands and teeth clean, yet without showing any great concern for them.

16

Don’t puff up your cheeks

Don’t loll out your tongue

Don’t rub your hands or beard

Don’t thrust out your lips

Don’t bite your lips

Don’t keep your lips too open or too closed.

17

Don’t be a flatterer, neither play with any person that delights not to be played with.

18

Don’t read any letters, books, or papers in company.

But when there is a necessity for the doing of it, you must ask leave

19

Let your countenance be pleasant

Let your countenance be somewhat grave in serious matters

20

The gestures of the body must be suited to the discourse you are upon

21

Don’t reproach anyone for the infirmities of nature or delight to put them that have in mind thereof.

22

Don’t show yourself glad at the misfortune of another person, though he were your enemy

23

When you see a crime punished, you may be inwardly pleased, but always show pity to the suffering offender.

24

Don’t laugh too loud or too much at any public spectacle

25

Superfluous complements and all affectation of ceremony are to be avoided, yet where due they are not to be neglected

26

In taking off your hat to persons of distinction, such as noblemen, justices, churchmen, etc., make a reverence, bowing more or less according to the custom of the better breed and better quality of the person.

Among your equals, don’t always expect that they should begin with you first, but to take off the hat when there is no need is affectation

In the manner or saluting and re-saluting in words, keep to the most usual custom.

27

It is bad manners to bid one more eminent than yourself to be covered, as well as not to do it to whom it is due.

Likewise, he that makes too much haste to put on his hat does not well, yet he ought to put it on at the first, or at most the second time of being asked.

Now what is herein spoken, of qualification in behavior in saluting, ought also to be observed in taking of place, and sitting down for ceremonies without bounds is troublesome.

28

If anyone comes to speak to you while you are sitting, stand up, though he be your inferior, and when you present seats, let it be to every one according to his degree

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

30

In walking, the highest place in most countries seems to be on the right hand.

Therefore, place yourself on the left of him whom you desire to honor.

But if three are walking together, the middle place is the most honorable.

The wall is usually given to the most worthy if two are walking together.

31

If anyone far surpasses others, either in age, estate, or merit, yet would give place to a meaner than himself in his own lodging or elsewhere, the one ought not to except it.

So he on the other part should not use much earnestness, nor offer it above once or twice

32

To one that is your equal, or not much inferior, you are to give to chief place in your lodging

And he to who it is offered ought at the first to refuse it, but at the second to accept, though not without acknowledging his own unworthiness

33

They that are in dignity or in office have precedence in all places.

But while they are young, they ought to respect those that are their equals in birth or other qualities, though they have no public charge.

34

If is good manners to prefer them to whom we speak before ourselves, especially if they are above us with whom in no sort we ought to begin.

35

Let your discourse with men of business be short and comprehensive

36

Artificers and 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 and courtesy, without arrogance.

37

In speaking to men of quality, keep a full pace from them, and don’t lean or look them full in the face, or approach too near them.

38

When visiting the sick in a hospital, don’t be a doctor if you are not a doctor

39

In writing or speaking, give to every person his or her due title according to his degree and the custom of the place

40

Don’t strive with your superiors in argument, but always submit your judgment to others with modesty

41

Don’t undertake to teach your equal in the art he professes, as it savors of arrogance

42

Let your ceremonies in courtesy be proper to the dignity of his place with whom you converse, for it is absurd to act the same with a clown and prince

43

Do not express joy before one who is sick or in pain, for that contrary passion will aggravate that person’s misery

44

When a man does all he can though it doesn’t succeed, don’t blame him

45

Being to advise or reprehend anyone, consider whether it ought to be in public, or in private, presently, or at some other time, in what terms to do it, and in reproving, show no sign of cholar, but do it with all sweetness and mildness.

46

Take all admonitions thankfully in what time or place soever given

But afterwards not being culpable, take a time and place convenient to let him know it that gave them.

47

Don’t mock or jest at anything of importance.

Break no jest that are sharp biting

And if you deliver anything witty and pleasant, abstain from laughing thereat yourself.

48

Wherein you reprove another, be unblameable yourself, for example is more prevalent than precepts.

49

Don’t use any reproachful language against anyone, neither curse nor revile.

50

Don’t be hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement of any

51

Don’t wear your clothes foul, ripped, or dusty, but see they be brushed once every day at least, and take heed that you don’t approach to any uncleanness.

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

53

Don’t run in the streets

Don’t go too slowly or or with your mouth open

Don’t shake your arms

Don’t kick the earth with your feet

Don’t go upon your toes or in a dancing fashion

54

Don’t play the Peacock, looking everywhere about you, to see if you be well decked, if your shoes fit well, if your stocking sit neatly, and clothes handsomely.

55

Don’t eat in the streets, or in the house, out of season

56

Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for it is better to be alone than in bad company

57

In walking around in a house, only with one in company, if he is greater than yourself, at the first give him the right hand and don’t stop until he does, and don’t be the first that turns, and when you do turn, let it be with your face towards him.

If he is a man of great quality, don’t walk directly beside him, but somewhat behind him, but yet in such a manner that he may easily speak to you.

58

Let your conversation be without malice or envy, for it is a sign of a tractable and commendable nature, and in all causes of passion admit reason to govern

59

Never express anything unbecoming or act against the moral rules before your inferiors

60

Don’t be immodest in urging your friends to discover a secret

61

Don’t utter base and frivolous things among grave and learned men or very difficult questions or subjects among the ignorant or things hard to be believed

Don’t stuff your discourse with sentences among your betters or equals

62

Don’t speak of doleful things in a time of mirth or at the table

Don’t speak of melancholy things as death and wounds

And if others mention them, change the discourse if you can

Only tell your dreams to your intimate friends

63

A man should not value himself of his achievements or rare qualities of wit, much less of his riches virtue or kindred

64

Don’t break a jest where none takes pleasure in mirth

Don’t laugh aloud, or at all, without occasion

Don’t deride any man’s misfortune, though there seem to be some cause

65

Don’t speak injurious words, either in jest or earnest

Scoff at none, although they give occasion

66

Don’t be froward

Be friendly and courteous,

Be the first to salute, hear and answer

Don’t be pensive when it is time to converse

67

Don’t detract from others

Don’t be excessive in commanding

68

If you don’t know for sure if you will be welcome at a place, don’t go there

Don’t give advice without being asked

When asked to give advice, do it briefly

69

If two persons contend together, don’t take the part of either unconstrained, and don’t be obstinate in your own opinion

In things indifferent, be of the major side

70

Don’t reprehend the imperfections of others, for that belongs to parents, masters, and superiors

71

Don’t gaze on the marks or blemishes of others and don’t ask how they came

What you may speak in secret to your friend, don’t deliver before others

72

Don’t speak in an unknown tongue in company, but in your own language, and that as those of quality do, and not as the vulgar

Treat sublime matters seriously

73

Think before you speak

Don’t pronounce imperfectly, or bring out your words too hastily, but orderly and distinctly.

74

When another is speaking, be attentive yourself, and don’t disturb the audience

If any man hesitate in his words, don’t help him or prompt him unless he desires it

Don’t interrupt him or answer him until his speech is finished

75

In the middle of discourse, don’t ask of what one treats

But if you perceive any stop because of your coming, you may well intreat him gently to proceed

If a person of quality comes in while you are conversing, it is good to repeat what was said before

76

While you are talking, don’t point with your finger at him of whom you discourse or approach too near him to whom you talk, especially to his face

77

Treat with men at fit times about business and don’t whisper in the company of others

78

Make no comparisons

And if any of the company be commended for any brave act of virtue, don’t commend another for the same

79

Don’t be apt to relate news if you don’t know the truth thereof

In discoursing of things you have heard, don’t name your author

Always a secret discover not.

80

Don’t be tedious in discourse or in reading unless you find the company pleased therewith

81

Don’t be curious to know the affairs of others, or approach those that speak in private

82

Don’t undertake what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise

83

When you deliver a matter, do it without passion and with discretion, however mean the person is that you did it to

84

When your superiors talk to anybody, hearken not, neither speak or laugh

85

In company of these of higher quality than yourself, don’t speak until you are asked a question, then stand upright, take off your hat, and answer in few words

86

In disputes, don’t be so desirous to overcome as not to give liberty to each one to deliver his opinion and submit to the judgment of the major part, especially if they are judges of the dispute

87

Let your carriage be such as becomes a man grave, seated, and attentive to that which is spoken

Don’t contradict at every turn what others say

88

Don’t be tedious in discourse

Don’t make many digressions or often repeat the same manner of discourse

89

Don’t speak evil of the absent, for it is unjust

90

Being set at meat, don’t scratch, spit, cough, or blow your nose, except when there is a necessity for it

91

Don’t make a show of taking great delight in your victuals

Don’t feed with greediness

Don’t cut your bread with a knife

Don’t lean on the table

Don’t find fault with what you eat

92

Don’t take salt or cut bread with your knife greasy

93

When entertaining anyone at the table, it is decent to present him with meat

Don’t undertake to help others undesired by the master

94

If you soak bread in the sauce, let it be no more than what you put in your mouth at a time

Don’t blow your broth at the table, but let it cool down on its own

95

Don’t put your meat to your mouth with your knife in your hand

Don’t spit forth the stones of any fruit pie upon a dish

Don’t cast anything under the table

96

It is unbecoming to stoop much to one’s meat

Keep your fingers clean

When your fingers are foul, wipe them on a corner of your table napkin

97

Don’t put another bit into your mouth until the former bit is swallowed

Don’t let your morsels be too big for the jowls

98

Don’t drink or talk with your mouth full

Don’t gaze about you while you are drinking

99

Don’t drink too leisurely or yet too hastily

Before and after drinking, wipe your lips

Don’t breath then or ever with too great a noise, for it is uncivil

100

Don’t cleanse your teeth with the table cloth napkin, fork, or knife

But if others do it, let it be done without a peep to them

101

Don’t rinse your mouth in the presence of others

102

It is out of use to call upon the company often to eat, or need you drink to others every time you drink

103

In the company of your betters, don’t be longer in eating than they are

Don’t lay your arm, but only your hand, on the table

104

It belongs to the chiefest in company to unfold his napkin and fall to meat first

But he ought then to begin in time and to dispatch with dexterity that the slowest may have time allowed him

105

Don’t be angry at the table whatever happens

And if you have reason to be so, don’t show it

Put on a cheerful countenance, especially if there are strangers present, for good humor makes one dish of meat a feast

106

Don’t set yourself at the upper of the table

But if it be you due, or that the master of the house will have it so, don’t contend, least you should trouble the company

107

If others talk at the table, be attentive, but don’t talk with meat in your mouth

108

When you speak of God or his attributes, let it be seriously and with reverence

Honor and obey your natural parents although they be poor

109

Let your recreations be manful and not sinful

110

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

[Jim W N]

Watch out for conscience especially a guilty conscience. As believers in Jesus, if we understand grace and that we are righteous as a forever gift by the grace of his perfect sacrifice, our conscience at first may rebel. But if we understand that God the Father righteously calls us the righteousness of God in Christ because God fully judged and condemned all of our sins on the body of Jesus Christ and we got the exchange - his righteousness for our sin - our consciences will begin to accept no guilt or condemnation and begin to heal.

We want to be lead by His peace, not by conscience. But a conscience in tune with God’s spirit is truly a fired up conscience.

[Jim W N]

file:///C:/My%20Stuff/FR/Replace%20smart%20quotes%20with%20regular%20straight%20quotes.html

Copy and paste above on Google Chrome URL. Paste the original and then copy and paste it back on FR. I’ve tried it and it works.

[Albion Wilde]

Wonderful! Thank you for a glimpse into polite society of the 18th century. It was like a walk through Williamsburg or the colonial area of Philadelphia.

As for the "superiors" or "inferiors" part, the only places people observe these niceties these days are in the military, where it is spelled out, and in the upper reaches of corporations, where if you don't know which is which, you won't stay long.

The rest of society doesn't seem to think "superior" or "quality" people are morally acceptable; but "inferiors" are stylish and hypocritically patronized.

[ETL]

Isn’t there a standard url for that website?

[Albion Wilde]

Don't stop unannounced when others are walking and expect them to stop too.

Yearrgghhh. One of our jogging partners does that. So rude. Usually it is to answer her cell phone (also rude when jogging with two partners) but often it is just to hog attention to some trivial point in her cat stories.

[Albion Wilde]

Choler means visible anger.

[ETL]

Here's another apparent solution that some freeper posted a month or so ago. I have not personally tried it myself. Instead I manually replace the troublesome apostrophes and quotation marks from anything copied & pasted.

______________________________________

Replace smart quotes with regular straight quotes:

When I post HTML to a blog, I find that smart quotes don't show up correctly, so this tool replaces smart quotes (and a few other entities) with regular quotes (or the regular entity). To use, paste the text containing the smart quotes in the top box, then hit convert and the converted text will appear in the lower box.

http://dan.hersam.com/tools/smart-quotes.html

[mad_as_he$$]

Gibbs has about 30 rules.
God has 10.
GW over 100.

lol..

[Pontiac]

Isn’t that what I said.

[Jim W N]

Danged if I know. I just copied and pasted the URL showing. I don’t know why it doesn’t have the auto-link you usually get, but if I copy and paste the URL to a Google Chrome page, the page appears.

I only got so far with those rules. My gosh it wore me out. I think I love the idea behind good manners and loved how our ancestors and America’s Founders were so aware and careful about what really is loving treatment and respect for others. Rules don’t always work so well for me, but I know God’s spirit is teaching me all the time. :)

[Jim W N]

Thanks.

[ImaGraftedBranch]

Bfl

[Yaelle]

Was it 19, where you are not to read a letter or paper when in company of another, but if it is urgent, you are to excuse yourself???? We need that one today with cell phones. It should be inexcusable other than for emergencies to text or read texts when sitting at a table with someone. When waiting alone, nothing wrong with it. And at the very least, it should be something to apologize for, as in “Oh no, the babysitter has to leave early. I’m afraid I need to call so-and-so to watch my kids, I’m so sorry.”

[Albion Wilde]

Forgive me. One of my hobbies is translation of poetry. So I would have avoided the word “color” as being too close in spelling so as to obscure the subtle difference in meaning. Cholera was a deadly infectious disease of the time that many may have heard about. “Color” is a little bit excited. “Choler” is sick with rage.

[Mycroft Holmes]

file:///C:/My%20Stuff/FR/Replace%20smart%20quotes%20with%20regular%20straight%20quotes.html This takes me right to it (on Google Chrome).

---

This takes you to a file on your C: drive in the directory

My Stuff/FR/Replace smart quotes with regular straight quotes.html

which is a local file on your system.

J. R. "Bob" Dobbs receding into infinity...

<img src="http://mumble.com/image.jpg"> substitute the actual source of the image for http://mumble.com/image.jpg This image must be out on a server on the web someplace, not on your machine. This is why people have flickr and picassa accounts. You can easily find out the URL of an existing picture on the web by right-mousing over it and selecting Open Image In New Tab. This will open a tab on your browser containing only that image. The URL of that tab is the one to use as your src="" value.

Some of the photo storage sites on the web (flickr) try to drive web traffic to their site to harvest advertising by providing a convenient pointer to their site that isn't a URL to a .jpg To get the proper URL try right mousing over the image and select Open Image in New Tab. This should get you the naked image itself, without all of the surrounding advertising. This is the URL you want to use.

Access Denied! - No Hotlinking - Occasionally you will see an image that looks good on the site of origin but won't show up if you use it in a posting. Many sites block what they term as "hot-linking" thinking that people who link to their images from pages that are not theirs are stealing their hard paid for bandwidth. They have a point. Either use another image or host it on your own site to fix this problem.

Often the poster will see the image that hot-linking is not allowed for while other users are whining about no image present and red X's. This is because the poster's browser has cached the image and doesn't have to go to the blocked site to get it. A refresh of the page should show what is what.

	Freedom ≠ Free Stuff☭
	I, for one, welcome our new Cybernetic Overlords /.
Mash Dobbshead® for HTML, bop Hello_Cthlhu for XAMPP

[afraidfortherepublic]

Revisiting George Washington’s Rules of Civility. If only more parents followed these Rules with their children today!

FReep mail me if you want on, or off, this Revolutionary War/ Founding Father/ George Washington ping list.

[silverleaf]

Bookmark

[matginzac]

Great Rules!
I taught 3rd graders for a few years and had them copy the Rules in their copy books for handwriting exercises...of course we discussed them before copying...they thought it was neat to copy Geo Washington stuff...

[goodnesswins]

They copied ALL those rules?

[Bigg Red]

I am thinking that the “cholar” here is more along the lines of the obsolete word “choler”, which, I think would have been in use during this time. This word referred to bile, but also was used as a show of anger, in the same way we might say, “Don’t get your dander up!” they might say, “Don’t let your choler show!”

But this means the same as you interpreted, and I am betting there are FReepers reading my comments who are thinking, “Who cares?!” But they are not word nerds like me and like you probably are.