Been meaning to put this one up for a long time, but just found the book while packing. It’s from page 23 of
Years ago, my mother had a little sign on her desk…. It read: “Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given.”
That may be as close to Texas Etiquette as any of us will ever get.
Amen, Kinky.
Finally got around to reading The Federalist (have been trudging through the introductions for a whle now in my pre-slumber reading), and right away in Federalist #1 Hamilton hits with a quote to add to my list (a long one, but worth it, imho:
So numerous indeed and so powerful are the causes which serve to give a false bias to the judgment, that we, upon many occasions, see wise and good men on the wrong as well as on the right side of questions of the first magnitude to society. This circumstance, if duly attended to, would furnish a lesson of moderation to those who are ever so much persuaded of their being in the right in any controversy. And a further reason for caution, in this respect, might be drawn from the reflection that we are not always sure that those who advocate the truth are influenced by purer principles than their antagonists. Ambition, avarice, personal animosity, party opposition, and many other motives not more laudable than these, are apt to operate as well upon those who support as those who oppose the right side of a question. Were there not even these inducements to moderation, nothing could be more ill-judged than that intolerant spirit which has, at all times, characterized political parties.
Would that these words would be heeded by the braying Ds and the trumpeting Rs.
Libby, my new neighbor, gave me her spare copy of David McCullough’s biography of John Adams. Haven’t had a chance to get too far into it, but have already come across two quotes that I have added to my quotes page:
Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own approbation. But upon the stage of life, while conscience claps, let the world hiss! On the contrary if conscience disapproves, the loudest applauses of the world are of little value.
Ambition is one of the most ungovernable passions of the human heart. The love of power is insatiable and uncontrollable….There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.
