GOOD MANNERS

Man is known by his manners. They proclaim him as no other thing would. Courtesy costs nothing and generates a lot of goodwill, friendliness, fellow-feeling, politeness and a congenial ambience. Politeness drives away anger, while rude behavior invites wrath and causes a lot of harm by generating a lot of hatred and bitterness. Good manners and behavior generate good and amicable response while bad manners and behavior create a
vicious circle. As we sow, so we reap goes the universal saying and things boomerang on us.

A good mannered person is immediately recognized. He is liked, admired and welcomed by all. He is polite, soft-spoken, courteous, helpful, affable and accommodating. His ever-helping habits and pleasing behavior wins him popularity and makes him a favorite, wherever he is. His gratitude to others in lieu of help received and his eagerness to return it manifold gives him an edge over others. For him saying “thank you” comes as a habit for any help rendered, however small it is. But these small expressions like ‘sorry’, ‘excuse me’, ‘thank you’ come to him naturally and not mechanically. This gets him the respect, which others crave for but do not deserve. He is always courteous and considerate towards other fellow beings and gives due respect to their sentiments, ideas
and concepts. He is not only considerate towards human beings, but also towards animals. He is a gentleman to the core, both in thought and practice.

The basic principles of good manners and etiquettes should always be adhered to and followed because they make life pleasant, smooth and easy. Man makes manners and manners make man. They reflect each other and go together. Good manners are both technique and an art. They can be learnt, imitated and cultivated provided one has a will. Much can be forgiven, forgotten and avoided by saying a simple ‘sorry’, when something is done wrong unconsciously. The sense of regret and sorrow mitigates the suffering and insult to a large extent.

Good manners are the external expressions of inner goodness and education. Among many other things, good manners form the very foundation of our culture and civilization. Without good manners, polite behavior, social etiquettes and courtesies, life would lose much of its charm. More often than not good manners are inherited. In good, educated, cultured and well mannered families, children imbibe good behavior, politeness and courtesy union- Scio sly. When a young one sees an elderly member of the family behaving in a dignified, refined and polished way, he learns them automatically without much effort. Refinement, courtesy, politeness etc., are the essence of a civilized society. They reflect the advancement of culture, education and social blend. Good manners and civilization are inter-linked and inseparable. Good manners are painstakingly taught and laboriously cultivated in the schools and families. In olden days the princes and princesses were sent even to courtesans to learn good manners and courtesies as they were the role model of etiquettes and polite behavior. Good things can be learnt from anybody.