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George Washington s ules TO LIVE BY GOOD MANNERS GUIDE FROM THE FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY K M KOSTYAL ILLUSTRATED BY FRED HARPER FOREWORD BY LIZZIE Post THE EMILY POST INSTITUTE
to Foreword to tiquette manners civility they all boil down to how we treat one another and how we hope to be seen and understood by those around us Many people say manners are gone that etiquette no longer exists I believe they are wrong Emily Post my great great grandmother always said When two people come together and their lives affect one another you have etiquette By this definition etiquette is alive every day However it is up to good into our to us bring etiquette lives and extend it graciously to those we encounter whether holding a door for a stranger or sharing with our closest family and friends At the Emily Post Institute we base our etiquette advice on the principles of consideration respect and honesty These principles stand the test of time Manners are the actions that we take in order to convey these principles It s respectful
to greet someone you meet to let them know you welcome their presence Today we do this by smiling giving a hand shake or a hug In previous eras a curtsy or a bow showed respect and welcomed a gentleman or lady s presence This goes to show that manners have a wonderful habit of changing as the way we live our lives changes while the underlying principles remain the same George Washington certainly never grappled with whether to answer his cell phone in front of a friend or business colleague He never had to think about whether to offer someone a seat on the subway or how to politely reply to an email However he had to know how to politely handle a messenger bringing news and how to welcome strangers as guests at Mount Vernon He had to know which side of the street to walk on when escorting his wife around town He also had to know proper coach etiquette when sharing a ride with others While each of these things may be handled differently today and while many of them are obsolete the principles of etiquette that drive manners always remain the same Be considerate and aware of those around you be respectful of those you encounter and understand how your actions will either positively or negatively affect them And always be honest and sincere with your actions As long as we are sincere with our intentions even if we make a mistake others will know we meant no harm or disrespect George Washington s Rules to Live By offers a fun and engaging look at how civility etiquette and manners were important to one of our nation s most beloved historical figures and how the rules he chose to live by in the 18th century are still worth living by today Lizzie Post The Emily Post Institute
