Having excellent manners requires knowing a lot of details, right? Wrong. Emily Post, considered by some the ultimate authority, summed up the only thing you really need to know:

“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.”

Maybe you know more than someone about setting a table, or being a bridesmaid, but knowing how to mind your manners doesn’t make you a better person. What demonstrates character is, where appropriate, letting a friend in on your knowledge without making them feel foolish or naïve.

So don’t haughtily move the salad fork or scoff at someone skipping the receiving line. If the situation isn’t life threatening, and won’t embarrass anyone terribly, keep quiet.  Using etiquette to “put someone in their place” is, in fact, awfully bad manners.

Stay polite darlings.

-Dinah

Read more about Emily Post and her advice here

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