George Washington's Rules of Civility: Traced to Their Sources and RestoredThe editor's theory is that the Rules were derived from the oral instruction of Rev. James Marye, supposed to have been Washington's teacher in Fredericksburg, Va. The original source of the Rules appears to have been a French work, first published in 1617, and reprinted in various editions. The present work includes a comparison of the text of Washington's Rules with several editions of the French work, including an English translation. |
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Common terms and phrases
amusez auec aureille autres ayat Bishop of Toul bouche British Museum C'est vne celuy Chapter vii chose ciuilité conversation couuert d'vn d'vne Discourse doit donner drink égaux estre faire faites Father faut fois Frede Fredericksburg French Maxims gardez vous bien George Washington hand Hawkins version honneste honour Huguenot iamais inciuilité James Marye Jesuit l'autre l'on la bouche later French book laugh loüanges maison manners matter ment mesme mettre modesty MONCURE DANIEL CONWAY mordre Mount Vernon mouth n'en n'est Obadiah Walker parlez parmy paroles particulierement Périn Person of Quality personnes qualifiées Pont-à-Mousson poussez Precepts premier prendre prés present propos puisse quãd que vous quelqu'vn ricksburg Rules of Civility s'il semblable semble Shew soient soin souuent soyez Speak Staige suiet temps thing thou tion Toner tousiours tout toutesfois translated viandes viii Virginia walk whth words youth Youth's Behaviour
Popular passages
Page 180 - Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.
Page 24 - In the presence of others sing not to yourself with a humming noise, nor drum with your fingers or feet.
Page 159 - Make no show of taking great delight in your victuals; feed not with greediness ; cut your bread with a knife ; lean not on the table ; neither find fault with what you eat.
Page 74 - Read no letters, books, or papers in company ; but, when there is a necessity for doing it, you must ask leave. Come not near the books or writings of any one so as to read them, unless desired, nor give your opinion of them unasked ; also, look not nigh when another is writing a letter.
Page 137 - Speak not in an unknown tongue in company, but in your own language, and that as those of quality do and not as the vulgar; sublime matters treat seriously.
Page 147 - Be not apt to relate news if you know not the truth thereof. In discoursing of things you have heard, name not your author always. A secret discover not. 45. Be not curious to know the affairs of others, neither approach to those that speak in private.
Page 104 - When a man does all he can, though it succeeds not well, blame not him that did it.
Page 58 - Turn not your back to others, especially in speaking; jog not the table or desk on which another reads or writes ; lean not on any one.
Page 127 - Speak not of doleful things in time of mirth, nor at the table ; speak not of melancholy things, as death and wounds, and if others mention them, change, if you can, the discourse.
Page 44 - He sleep amongst my most inveterate Foes And with gladness never wish to wake In deluding sleepings let my eyelids close That in an enraptured Dream I may In a soft lulling sleep and gentle repose Possess those joys denied by Day.