Being and Doing – 13 May – Manners

GOOD manners is the art of making those people easy with whom we converse.

SWIFT

MANNERS are of more importance than laws.   Upon them, in a great measure, the laws depend.   The law touches us but here and there, now and then.   Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarise or refine us by a constant, steady, uniform, insensible operation, like that of the air we breathe in.

They give their whole form and colour to our lives.   According to their quality they aid morals, they supply them, or they totally destroy them.

BURKE

MANNERS are the shadows of virtues; the momentary display of those qualities which our fellow-creatures love and respect.   If we strive to become, then, what we strive to appear, manners may often be rendered useful guides to the performance of our duties.

SIDNEY SMITH

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These quotes are from ‘Being and Doing’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1908 for members of the Being and Doing Guild whose object is to do all they can for the relief of suffering and misery.

Most of the writers are 19th Century Christians from Britain and Europe who were committed to living their faith through deeds as well as words – Being AND Doing.

For many years these words have kept me company and encouraged me on the journey of faith.  I hope they will encourage others also.