. . . Women Were Brought Up

People Say When You're In Love, You Don't Need Etiquette. Well, You Need It Then More Than Anything. Or They Say, "at Home I Can Just Be Myself." What They Mean Is They Can Be Their Worst Selves... They Always Mean They Will Save All Their Anxiety About How To Behave For Somebody Like The Head Waiter Of A Restaurant, Someone They'll Never See Again.

When Virtues Are Pointed Out First, Flaws Seem Less Insurmountable.

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.

Yes, Etiquette Is Hypocritical. Yes, It Does Inhibit Children - If You're Lucky. But The Idea That It's Elitist And Irrelevant Is Like Saying Language Is Elitist And Irrelevant.

Washington Knows That It Is Not Safe To Kick People Who Are Down Until You Find Out What Their Next Stop Will Be.