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What do I love about: Galateo: The rules of polite behaviour?
This book is a short easy read. Galateo put this book together in the 16th century as a gift to his nephew who was destined for greatness to help him navigate the days of renaissance Italy. These rules are very applicable to today’s society. Many may not agree with some of his points, but I believe there is something to learn from everything he has mentioned. Galateo provides guidance on table manners, to dressing, to interactions with others etc.
What do I not love about: Galateo: The rules of polite behaviour?
It felt like this important book was written for only men
Who should read: Galateo: The rules of polite behaviour?
Anyone who loves self-development and looking to improve how they interact and are perceived
Who should not read: Galateo: The rules of polite behaviour?
Zilch
Notes on Galateo: The rules of polite behaviour
- One should not laugh like a buffoon, nor in a boisterous or any insipid way, nor laugh out of habit rather than need
- Do not laugh at your own jokes for this is a type of self-praise
- The smaller the bad habits are the more dangerous they are. Because they sneak into our daily habits without noticing them
- It is not proper either to show ones tongue or stroke ones beard too much, or rub your hands together, or sigh, or moan, or twitch, or move in fits and switch
- Never rebel against the custom whatever it be
- Speak in a courteous way and dress fashionably without attracting attention
- Do not use vulgar words and indecent language and do not be verbose and pompous
- Do not claim the right, even when you are right. Because there is neither right nor wrong: there is only matters at the moment
- It is not appropriate behavior when on the road as sometimes happens one sees something disgusting to turn to one’s companions and point it out. Even much less should one entreat someone to sniff something that stinks. Some are inclined to do with enormous insistence.
- It is a nasty habit when certain people in public put their hands-on whatever part of their body they wish to touch.
- Grinding one’s teeth, or whistling, screeching, the rubbing of stones and grating of metal are unpleasant to the ear. One ought to abstain from such as much as you can.
- It is improper for a polite gentleman to arrange himself to relieve his physical needs in the sight of others. Nor when finished, should he return to their presence still adjusting himself in his clothing.
- You must watch your singing, especially solo, if you are tone-deaf and sing off-key. Few can resist doing this: in fact, it seems the less one natural musical talent, the more one sings.
- A polite person ought to abstain from many yawns. Yawning seems to come from weariness and disgust and he who yawns would love to be anywhere else but where he is. And dislikes the group he is with and the conversations and activities.
- Everyone wishes to be respected even if he does not deserve it.
- Nothing must be done in front of people we wish to please which denotes lordship rather than companionship. Every action of ours, instead must suggest reverence and respect towards the company we keep.
- It is not appropriate to be always depressed or distracted in the company of others.
- Neither in jest nor seriously should you say anything against Gods or his saints, no matter how witty and clever it seems
- We must diligently assume the gestures and words which usage and modern custom dictate in the land we inhabit, normally they are employed in welcoming, greeting, and addressing each man according to his worth and so forth among people we observe
- If you use a suitable degree of largess toward your inferiors you will be considered courteous. If you do the same toward your superiors you will called a polite gentleman. But one who is overly lavish and squandering will be accused of being vain and fatuous, and perhaps worse it may happen that he will be considered evil and a flatterer. I hear some literary men say, a fawning parasite.
- In daily matters, however, one must abstain both from giving advie and from compensating for other’s shortcomings
- When your pleasantries are not rewarded with the laughter of listeners, cease and desist from telling jokes in the future
- A man should dress in the customs of others so as not to show that he is reprimanding them or criticizing them.
- We do not have the power to change customs as we see fit. For it is time that creates them and likewise time consumes them.
- One should not let his arms dangle nor swing them backward and forward nor throw them about so that it looks like he is sowing seed in a field. Nor should you stare a man in the face as if there is something strange in his appearance.
- Grace is nothing other than the luster which shines from the appropriateness of things that are suitably ordered and well arranged one with the other and together.
- It is not polite while at the table to scratch your head or somewhere else. A man should also as much as possible avoid spitting but if he must he should do it discreetly.
- To encourage those who are at the table with you with words such as “Are you not eating this morning” or “Is there nothing that you like” or “taste some of these” is not laudable even though the majority of people do it.
- One should not go out in public with the coif he wears to bed on his head, nor adjusting his clothing in the presence of others.
- Do not comb your hair nor wash your hands among other people either. For these are things done in your room and not out in the open.