Precision marching is less important for the bridal party than maintaining the proper facial expresssions: The bridegroom must look awed; the bridesmaids, happy and excited; the father of the bride, proud; and the bride, demure. If the bridegroom feels doubtful, the bridesmaids, sulky, the father, worried, and the bride, blasé, nobody wants to know.

Only a person who considers himself too good for you is good enough.

It's far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help.

Everybody's an art critic.

The rationale that etiquette should be eschewed because it fosters inequality does not ring true in a society that openly admits to a feverish interest in the comparative status-conveying qualities of sneakers. Manners are available to all, for free.

Email is very informal, a memo. But I find that not signing off or not having a salutation bothers me.

A lot of men got upset at the feminist movement because they had all the toys and we wanted some.