George Washington's Rules Of Civility And Decent Behaviour: In Company And Conversation

The origin of the rules can be traced back to a longer book on etiquette written by French Jesuit scholars; eight-year-old Francis Hawkins, a British schoolboy, translated the work into English in around 1640. The selected rules were written out by George Washington, alongside poems which also provide an insight into his boyhood musings, in one of two study books now held in the Library of Congress. These ancient rules of behaviour begin with the instruction that 'every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present' and ends with 'labour to keep alive in your breast that little celestial spark called conscience.' In between is a wealth of advice on how to avoid offending one's superiors, live peacefully among equals, and show respect to subordinates. We can all gain from imitating George Washington, whose ideas of dignity and respect for his fellow peers began with these rules and were followed diligently throughout his life, ultimately shaping both his outward demeanor and his nation.