222 Quotes by Judith Martin

As dear Erasmus said in De Civilitate, “It is safe to admit nothing that might embarrass one if repeated.” Gossip.

The correct British peer would no more dream of using his own title than he would of using his own umbrella, although he carries both and is proud of their age.

When people start hurling insults at you, you know their minds are closed and there’s no point in debating. You disengage yourself as quickly as possible from the situation.

It doesn’t matter whether the bride or the bridegroom writes the letters of thanks for wedding presents provided that these go out immediately after the arrival of each present and are not in the handwriting of the bride’s mother.

You do not have to do everything disagreeable that you have a right to do.

One should not be assigned one’s identity in society by the job slot one happens to fill. If we truly believe in the dignity of labor, any task can be performed with equal pride because none can demean the basic dignity of a human being.

When you’re in love, you put up with things that, when you’re out of love you cite.

It is, indeed, a trial to maintain the virtue of humility when one can’t help being right.

People will say, ‘Seventy isn’t old, it’s middle-aged,’ and I think, middle of what – 140?