When politeness is used to show up other people, it is reclassified as rudeness. Thus it is technically impossible to be too polite.

Chaperons don't enforce morality; they force immorality to be discreet.

'Honesty' in social life is often used as a cover for rudeness. But there is quite a difference between being candid in what you're talking about, and people voicing their insulting opinions under the name of honesty.

Society cannot exist without etiquette ... It never has, and until our own century, everybody knew that.

Nowadays, you form your beliefs to fit your behavior, not the other way around.

Washington knows that it is not safe to kick people who are down until you find out what their next stop will be.

The whole country wants civility. Why don't we have it? It doesn't cost anything. No federal funding, no legislation is involved. One answer is the unwillingness to restrain oneself. Everybody wants other people to be polite to them, but they want the freedom of not having to be polite to others.