George Washington’s Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior In Company and Conversation

2. When in company, put not your hands to any part of the body not usually discovered.

3. Show nothing to your friend that may affright him.

4. In the presence of others sing not to yourself with a humming noise, nor drum with your fingers or feet.

5. If you cough, sneeze, sigh, or yawn, do it not loud but privately, and speak not in your yawning, but put your handkerchief or hand before your face and turn aside.

6. Sleep not when others speak. Sit not when others stand. Speak not when you should hold your peace. Walk not on when others stop.

7. Put not off your clothes in the presence of others, nor go out your chamber half dressed.

8. At play and at fire it’s good manners to give place to the last comer, and affect not to speak louder than ordinary.

9. Spit not in the fire, nor stoop low before it. Neither put your hands into the flames to warm them, nor set your feet upon the fire, especially if there be meat before it.

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

12. Shake not the head, feet, or legs. Roll not the eyes, lift nto one eyebrow higher than the other. Wry not the mouth, and bedew no man’s face with your spittle by approaching too near him when you speak.

13. Kill no vermin, [such] as fles, lice, ticks, etc. in the sight of others. If you see any filth or thick spittle put your foot dexterously upon it. If it be upon the clothes of your companions put it off privately, and if it be upon your own clothese return thanks to him who puts it off.

14. Turn not your back to others, especially in speaking. Jog not the table or desk on which another reads or writes. Lean not upon anyone.

15. Keep your nails clean and short, also your hands and teeth clean, yet without showing any great concern for them.

16. Do not puff up the cheeks, loll not out the tongue, rub the hands or bread, thrust out the lips, or bite them or keep the lips too open or too close.

18. Read no letters, books, or papers in company, but when there is a necessity for the doing of it you must ask leave. Come not near the books or writings of another so as to read them unless desired, or give your opinion of them unasked. Also look not nigh when another is writing a letter.

21. Reproach none for the infirmities of nature, nor delight to put them that have in mind thereof.

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

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

26. In pulling off your hat to person of distinction, [such] as noblemen, justices, churchmen, etc., make a reverence bowing more or less according to the custom of the better bred, and quality of the persons. Among your equals expect not always that they should begin with you first, but to pull off the hat when there is no need is affectation. In the manner of saluting and resaluting in words keep to the most usual custom.

27. Tis ill manners to bid one more eminent than yourself be covered, as well as not to do it to whom it’s 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 second time of being asked. Now what is herein spoken, of qualification in behavior in saluting, ought also be observed in taking of place and sitting down, for ceremonies without bounds are troublesome.

28. If any one come to speak to you while you are sitting, standup though he be your inferior. And when you present seats let it be to everyone 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 walk together the middle place is the most honorable. The wall is usually given to the most worthy if two walk 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 accept 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 the chief place in your lodging. And he to whom 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 in all place precedence, 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. It is good manners to prefer them to whom we speak before ourselves, especially if they be above us, with whom in no sort we ought to begin.

36. Artificers & persons of low degree ought not to use many ceremonies to Lords, or others of high degree, but respect and highly honor them. Those of high degree ought to treat them with affability and courtesy, without arrogance.

37. In speaking to men of quality do not lean nor look them full in the face, nor approach too near them. At least keep a full pace from them.

38. In visiting the sick, do not presently play the physician if you be not knowing therein.

39. In writing or speaking, give to every person his due title, according to his degree & the custom of the place.

40. Strive not with your superiors in argument, but always submit your judgment to others with modesty.

41. Undertake not to teach your equal in the art himself professes; 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 a prince.

43. Do not express joy before one sick or in pain, for that contrary passion will aggravate his misery.

44. When a man does all he can though it succeeds not well, blame not him that did it.

45. Being to adbise or reprehend any one, consider whether it ought to be in public or in private, presently or at some other time, in what terms to do it; & in reproving show no sign of choler but do it with all sweetness and mildness.

46. Take all admonitions thankfully, in what time or place so ever given, but afterwards not being culpable take a time & place convenient to let him know it that gave them.

47. Mock not nor 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.

51. Wear not your clothes ful, ripped or dusty, but see they be brushed once every day at least; and take heed that you approach not 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. Run not in the streets, either go too slowly nor with mouth open. Go not shaking your arms, kick not the earth with your feet, go not upon the toes, nor in a dancing fashion.