Miss Manners herself, while never rude, is given to pulling a fast pinch in the way of a handshake on those who believe in kissing on, not even the first date, but the first sighting.

Hypocrisy is not generally a social sin, but a virtue.

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.

The more skillful the performance of false cheer, the more pleasing the effect is upon one's public and on that private audience to whom one owes even more.

When you consider how epidemic boredom is in our time, you have to concede that entertaining is a healing art.

Ideological differences are no excuse for rudeness.

People will say, 'Seventy isn't old, it's middle-aged,' and I think, middle of what - 140?