What Is Etiquette And Why Is It Important?
-
Etiquette is fluid, not a set of rigid rules. Manners change over time and reflect the best practices of our times. Etiquette isn't a set of "prescriptions for properness" but merely the guidelines for doing things in ways that make people feel comfortable.
-
Etiquette is for everyone, not something for the wealthy or wellborn. Etiquette is a code of behavior for people from all walks of life, every socioeconomic group, and of all ages. Good manners are a valuable asset and cost nothing to acquire.
-
Etiquette is current, not a thing of the past. The bedrock principles of etiquette remain as solid as they ever were. Manners change over time and across cultural boundaries, but the principles are universal and timeless.
-
Etiquette is unpretentious, not snobbish. A polite person doesn't try to be someone he's not, nor does he look down on others.
-
Grounded as it is in timeless principles, etiquette enables us to face whatever the future may bring with strength of character and integrity. This ever-adaptive code of behavior also allows us to be flexible enough to respect those whose beliefs and traditions differ from our own.
-
Civility and courtesy, the outward expressions of human decency, are the proverbial glue that holds society together---qualities that are more important than ever in today's complex and changing world.