George Washington: Rules of Conduct

At a very young age,  George Washington copied down some rules of conduct for himself.  His “Rules of Civility”

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in its entire form can be found in the Library of Congress.  At 16 George learned the secret of gracious manners and applied it to his own gentlemanly conduct.  Though some are a little outdated, his “rules” can still be applied to our own lives in today’s world.  Here they are presented just as he spelled and punctuated them.

George Washington’s Rules of Conduct:

• Associate yourself with Men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad company.
• Wear not your Cloths, foul, unript or Dusty but see they be Brush’d once every day at least and take heed that you approach not to any uncleaness.
• Be not hasty to believe flying Reports to the Disparagement of any:  Shift not yourself in the Sight of others nor Gnaw your nails
• Treat with men at fit Times about Business & Whisper not in the Company of Others.
• Be not Curious to Know the Affairs of Others neither approach those that Speak in Private.
• Read no Letters, Books, or Papers in Company but where there is Necessithy for the doing of it you must ask leave; come not near the Books or Writings of another so as to read them unless desired or give your opinion of them unask’d also look not nigh when another is writing a Letter.
• If you Cough, Sneeze, Sigh, or Yawn, do it not Loud but Privately; and Speak not in your Yawning, but put Your handkercheif or Hand before your face and turn aside. 
• Play not the Peacock, looking every where about you, to See if you be well deck’t, if your Shoes fit well if your Stokings Sit neatly, and Cloths handsomely.
• While you are talking, Point not with your Finger at him of Whom you Discourse nor Approach too ear him to whom you talk especially to his face.
• Drink nor not talk with your mouth full neither Gaze about you while you are a Drinking. 
• Turn not your Back to others especially in Speaking, Jog not the Table or Desk on which Another reads or writes, lean not upon any one.
• In visiting the Sick, do not Presently play the Physician if you be not Knowing therein.
• Undertake not what you cannot Perform but be Carefull to keep your promise.
• Speak not Evil of the absent for it is unjust.
• In Company of your Betters be not longer in eating than they are lay not your Arm but only your hand upon the table.
• If others talk at Table be attentive but talk not with Meat in your Mouth.
• When you Speak of God or his Atributes, let it be Seriously & with Reverernce.  Honour & Obey your Natural Parents altho they be Poor.

George’s original full version of “Rules” covers 10 pages in one of his “copybooks.”  My favorite has to be the “Play not the peacock” and “talk not with meat in your mouth.”  Which one’s do you like?