George Washington's Rules of Civility: Traced to their Sources and Restored by Moncure D. ConwayWashington, George
History
George Washington's Rules of Civility: Traced to their Sources and Restored by Moncure D. Conway
Washington, George
Etiquette
Chapter vii. 13. Quand quelque autre parle, prenez garde de donner
suiet à ses Auditeurs de s'en detourner; & pour vous, écoutez-le
fauorablement & auec attention, sans destourner les yeux d'vn autre
costé, ou vous arrester à quelqu'autre pensée. Si quelqu'vn a de la
peine à tirer ses mots comme par force, ne vous amusez pas á luy en
suggerer, pour faire paroistre quelque desir d'aider celuy qui
parle, si'l ne vient à vous en prier, ou que le tout se passe dãs
le particulier, & qu'encore cette persõne soit de vos plus intimes
& familiers amis; & apres tout ne l'interrompez point, & ne luy
repliquez en aucune maniere, iusques à ce que luy-mesme ait acheué.
[Sidenote: Hawkins: 'If any drawl forth his words, help him not']
[Sidenote: The later French book has: 'It is not Civil when a Person of
Quality hesitates or stops in his discourse for you to strike in, though
with pretence of helping his memory.']
When another person is speaking, beware of drawing off the
attention of his hearers; and as for yourself, listen to him
favourably and attentively, without turning your eyes aside or
directing your thoughts elsewhere. If any one finds difficulty in
expressing himself, do not amuse yourself by suggesting words to
him, so as to show a desire to assist the speaker unless he so
requests or you are quite in private, and the person is also one of
your most intimate and familiar friends. Above all, do not
interrupt him, and in nowise reply to him until he has finished.
75th. In the midst of Discourse ask [not what it is about], but if you
Perceive any Stop because of [your arrival, rather request the speaker]
to Proceed: If a Person of Quality comes in while your Conversing its
handsome to Repeat what was said before
Chapter vii. 14. Quand vous arriuez sur la moitié de quelque
discours, ne vous enquerez pas du suiet de l'entretien; car cela
est trop hardy & ressent l'homme d'authorité. Suppliez plûtost
honnestement & courtoisement que l'on le poursuiue, si vous voyez
qu'il se soir interronpu à vostre arriuée, parquel que sorte de
deference. Au contraire s'il suruient quelqu'vn, lors que vous
parlerez, & particulierement si c'est vne personne qualifiée & de
merite, il est de la bien-seance de faire vne petite recapitulation
de ce qui a esté auancé, & de poursuiure la deduction de tout le
reste de la matiere.
[Sidenote: Hawkins: 'It is seemely to make a little Epilogue and
briefe collection of what thou deliveredst.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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