This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
"Courtesy, kindness, sincerity, truthfulness, thoughtfulness and good manners translated into behavior reflect one's true character." - Harry F. Banks, real name possibly Harry Band
"The simple virtues of willingness, readiness, alertness and courtesy will carry a man further than mere smartness." - Sara Davidson
"The simple virtues of willingness, readiness, alertness and courtesy will carry a young man farther than mere smartness." - Henry Pomeroy Davison
"Where there is plenty, charity is a duty, not a courtesy." - Owen Feltham
"Treat all men with courtesy, amiability and respect." - Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman, known as the Vilna Gaon or Elijah of Vilna or by his Hebrew acronym Gra ("Gaon Rabbenu Eliyahu")
"There is not a single outward mark of courtesy that does not have a deep moral basis." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"In building a firm foundation for Success, here are a few stones to remember: The wisdom of preparation. The value of confidence. The worth of honesty. The privilege of working. The discipline of struggle. The magnetism of character. The radiance of health. The forcefulness of simplicity. The winsomeness of courtesy. The attractiveness of modesty. The inspiration of cleanliness. The satisfaction of serving. The power of suggestion. The buoyancy of enthusiasm. The advantage of initiative. The virtue of patience. The rewards of co-operation. The fruitfulness of perseverance. The sportsmanship of losing. The joy of winning." - Rollo C. Hester
"As you look at your youngsters, be sure that your standards of promptness, of attention, of quiet, of courtesy, are realistically geared to children, not idealistically geared to angels." - James L. Hymes, Jr.
"Courtesy is a science of the highest importance. It is, like grace and beauty in the body, which charm at first sight, and lend on to further intimacy and friendship, opening a door that we may derive instruction from the example of others, and at the same time enabling us to benefit them by our example, if there by anything in our character worthy of imitation." - Michel de Montaigne, fully Lord Michel Eyquem de Montaigne
"To be humble to superiors, is duty; to equals, is courtesy; to inferiors, is nobleness; and to all, safety; it being a virtue that, for all its lowliness, commandeth those it stoops to." - Thomas More, fully Sir Thomas More or Saint Thomas More
"Among the qualities of mind and heart which conduce to worldly success, there is one, the importance of which is more real, and which is generally underrated in our day... It is courtesy." - Herbert Schiffer
"Every virtue gives a man a degree of felicity in some kind: honesty gives a man a good report; justice, estimation; prudence, respect; courtesy and liberality, affection; temperance gives health; fortitude, a quiet mind, not to be moved by any adversity." - Francis Walsingham, fully Sir Francis Walsingham
"Courtesy, like charity, should begin at home." - P. C. Wren, fully Percival Christopher Wren
"There is a courtesy of the heart; it is allied to love. From its springs the purest courtesy in the outward behavior." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"There is no outward sign of courtesy that does not rest on a deep moral foundation." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"Use a sweet tongue, courtesy, and gentleness, and thou mayst mange to guide an elephant with a hair." - Sa'di (or Saadi), pen name of Abū-Muḥammad Muṣliḥ al-Dīn bin Abdallāh Shīrāzī, born Muslih-uddin NULL
"Kind words are benedictions. They are not only instruments of power, but of benevolence and courtesy; blessings both to the speaker and hearer of them." - Frederic Saunders
"Six essential qualities that are the key to success: sincerity, personal integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom, charity." - William Menninger, fully William Claire Menninger
"To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobility." - Benjamin Franklin
"Nothing is ever lost by courtesy. It is the cheapest of pleasures, costs nothing, and conveys much. It pleases him who gives and receives and thus, like mercy, is twice blessed." - Erastus Wiman
"Too much courtesy is discourtesy." - Japanese Proverbs
"We may scatter the seeds of courtesy and kindness about us at little expense. Some of them will fall on good ground, and grow up into benevolence in the minds of others, and all of them will bear fruit of happiness in the bosom whence they spring. Once blest are all the virtues; twice blest, sometimes." - Jeremy Bentham
"Miserable indeed is a world in which we have knowledge without understanding, criticism without appreciation, beauty without love, truth without passion, righteousness without mercy, and courtesy without a warm heart!" - Lin Yutang
"No person is without sense of compassion, or a sense of shame, or a sense of courtesy, or a sense of right and wrong. The sense of compassion is the beginning of humanity; the sense of shame is the beginning of righteousness; the sense of courtesy is the beginning of decorum [li]; the sense of right and wrong is the beginning of wisdom. Every person has within him these four beginnings; just as he has four limbs." - Mencius, born Meng Ke or Ko NULL
"Courtesy is compatible with bravery." - Mexican Proverbs
"Don't flatter yourself that friendship authorizes you to say disagreeable things to your intimates. The nearer you come in relation with a person, the more necessary tact and courtesy become." - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
"Life is not so short that there is always time enough for courtesy." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The first point of courtesy must always be truth." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Let not the emphasis of hospitality lie in bed and board; but let truth and love and honor and courtesy flow in all thy deeds." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Life is not so short but that there is always time for courtesy." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The first point of courtesy must always be truth" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"He who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love." - Richard Brooks
"A good deed is never lost. He who sows courtesy, reaps friendship; he who plants kindness, gathers love; pleasure bestowed upon a grateful mind was never sterile, but generally gratitude begets reward." - Saint Basil, aka Basil of Caesarea, Saint Basil the Great NULL
"He who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love." - Saint Basil, aka Basil of Caesarea, Saint Basil the Great NULL
"Let thy carriage be friendly, but not foolishly free; an unwary openness causeth contempt, but a little reservedness, respect; and handsome courtesy, kindness." - Thomas Fuller
"All doors are open to courtesy." - Thomas Fuller
"Courtesy is the inseparable Companion of Virtue." - Thomas Fuller
"Friends are helpful not only because they will listen to us, but because they will laugh at us; Through them we learn a little objectivity, a little modesty, a little courtesy; We learn the rules of life and become better players of the game." - Will Durant, fully William James "Will" Durant
"I place a high moral value on the way people behave. I find it repellent to have a lot, and to behave with anything other than courtesy in the old sense of the word - politeness of the heart, a gentleness of the spirit. " - Fran Lebowitz, fully Frances Ann "Fran" Lebowitz
"Don't flatter yourself that friendship authorizes you to say disagreeable things to your intimates. The nearer you come into relation with a person, the more necessary do tact and courtesy become." - Henry Ross Perot
"Granted that ritual in any realm from courtesy to worship can become formal, empty, and stiff. Nevertheless, with all its dangers it is an absolute necessity. We cannot… train children in the spirit of religion if the appropriate activities of worship and devotion are forgotten." - Harry Emerson Fosdick
" Man's nature is evil; goodness is the result of conscious activity. The nature of man is such that he is born with a fondness for profit. If he indulges this fondness, it will lead him into wrangling and strife, and all sense of courtesy and humility will disappear. He is born with feelings of envy and hate, and if he indulges these, they will lead him into violence and crime, and all sense of loyalty and good faith will disappear." - Hsun-Tzu NULL
"Punctuality is the stern virtue of men of business, and the graceful courtesy of princes." - Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton, fully Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, Lord Lytton
"Every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration. Constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought." - Margaret Chase Smith
"Humility and courtesy are acts of piety." - Muhammad, also spelled Mohammad, Mohammed or Mahomet, full name Muhammad Ibn `Abd Allāh Ibn `Abd al-Muttalib NULL