Early in his youth, George Washington wrote down a list of what he considered the rules of civility. The first suggested that “every action done in company [of other people] ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.”¹ Young George Washington learned the importance of acting with courtesy toward others.
That was more than 200 years ago. Today, common courtesy seems less common, and some people take kindness as a sign of weakness. But the reality has not changed—courtesy is as important as courage. It represents the best part of being human.
Courtesy is kindness come alive. It is shown most often in little things: the driver who slows so that other cars can merge, the person who stands on a crowded bus to give a seat to one who needs it more, the customer who says a sincere “thank you” to a helpful clerk. Through courtesy we give expression to kindness by showing respect, making someone’s life a little easier, or brightening someone’s day. Of a courteous man it was said, “Yesterday was dark and rainy, but [he] passed [by] and the sun shone.”²
Of all the rules that could be written for civility, perhaps the most enduring is what has been called the “Golden Rule.” Simply stated, this sublime law of relationships suggests that we treat others as we would hope to be treated. When we are courteous, when we act with thoughtful kindness, then those around us are likely to respond in kind. In this way, each of us can do our part to make courtesy a little more common.
Program #4050
¹Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation (1988), 9.
²In Mary Mercedes, A Book of Courtesy: The Art of Living with Yourself and Others (2001), 1.