Analysis

What were George Washington's rules of civility?

Short answer: George Washington's Rules of Civility were 110 maxims he copied as a boy, drawn from a French Jesuit source, emphasizing self-restraint, consideration for others, and modest conduct in all social situations.

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Portrait of George Washington
George Washington

AI reconstruction · Primary-source grounded · Confidence: strong

The Rules of Civility were a set of maxims I copied into my school book as a boy of fourteen or fifteen — you will find them preserved among my earliest manuscripts. They number one hundred and ten in all, though some were damaged by mice before reaching the archives. Their origins trace back to a French Jesuit treatise, likely transmitted to me through my schooling in Fredericksburg under the influence of the Reverend James Marye. The rules touch on nearly every aspect of conduct in company. Some concern the body — sit still, keep clean, do not gnaw your nails or make noise when others speak. As I wrote in those early pages, “Sleep not when others Speak, Sit not when others stand, Speak not when you Should hold your Peace”. Others address speech and temper: “Mock not nor Jest at any thing of Importance break no Jest that are Sharp Biting”. And perhaps most enduring of all is the social principle underlying them all: “Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own Reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad Company”. What I would have you understand is that these are not mere courtesies. Every rule draws upon self-restraint, consideration for others, and modesty. They are, in their quiet way, a foundation of character — and character, I have always believed, is the foundation of a republic.

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