Home / Authors / Judith Martin

Judith Martin

Judith Martin Quotes

Journalist

Judith Martin, known by her pen name Miss Manners, is an American journalist and columnist renowned for her insights into etiquette and social norms. Born on September 13, 1938, she has been writing a etiquette column for The New York Times since 1962, remaining a prominent figure in the public eye to this day.

Filter quotes by topic

All People Manners Women Etiquette Ifs Should Knows Miss Manners Social Behavior Way Children Rude Persons Thinking Want Law Missing Virtue Doe

Famous Judith Martin Quotes

“Yes, etiquette is hypocritical. Yes, it does inhibit children - if you're lucky. But the idea that it's elitist and irrelevant is like saying language is elitist and irrelevant.”

Ifs Children Doe Ideas Language Lucky Manners Irrelevant Etiquette Hypocritical Elitist

Author:Judith Martin

“Fairness does not consist so much of everybody's doing the same thing, but of everybody's being willing to do something that others don't want to do.”

Want Doe Willing Fairness

Author:Judith Martin

“Miss Manners does not mind explaining the finer points of gracious living, but she feels that anyone without the sense to pick up a potato chip and stuff it in their face should probably not be running around loose on the streets.”

Feels Should Mind Doe Running Faces Stuff Streets Missing Picks Manners Chips Potatoes Explaining Gracious Potato Chips Miss Manners

Author:Judith Martin

“We already know that anonymous letters are despicable. In etiquette, as well as in law, hiring a hit man to do the job does not relieve you of responsibility.”

Knows Men Wells Doe Jobs Law Responsibility Letters Etiquette In-laws Hiring Despicable Anonymous Letters

Author:Judith Martin

“Do you have a kinder, more adaptable friend in the food world than soup? Who soothes you when you are ill? Who refuses to leave you when you are impoverished and stretches its resources to give a hearty sustenance and cheer? Who warms you in the winter and cools you in the summer? Yet who also is capable of doing honor to your richest table and impressing your most demanding guests? Soup does its loyal best, no matter what undignified conditions are imposed upon it. You don't catch steak hanging around when you're poor and sick, do you?”

“The rationale that etiquette should be eschewed because it fosters inequality does not ring true in a society that openly admits to a feverish interest in the comparative status-conveying qualities of sneakers. Manners are available to all, for free.”

Should Doe Interest Quality Available Rings Inequality Manners Etiquette Sneakers Rationale Conveying

Book:Common courtesy: in which Miss Manners solves the problem that baffled Mr. Jefferson

Source: Common courtesy: in which Miss Manners solves the problem that baffled Mr. Jefferson