Rules of Civility: Nos. 17, 47-50, 57, 60, 61, 70, and 71

When George Washington was about 16 years old, he set about to copy 110 Rules of Civility from a school book. The exercise was intended to improve his penmanship while at the same time develop his character.  While some of the Rules are obsolete, a few of them are quite relevant today.

Rule 17 is important when we look a little bit closer:

Be no Flatterer, neither Play with any

​that delights not to be Play'd Withal.

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Mock not nor Jest at any thing of Importance

break [n]o Jest that are Sharp Biting

and if you Deliver any thing witty and Pleasent

abtain from Laughing thereat yourself.

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Wherein wherein you reprove Another be unblameable yourself;

for example is more prevalent than Precepts.

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Use no Reproachfull Language against any one

neither Curse nor Revile.

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Be not hasty to beleive flying Reports to the Disparag[e]ment of any.

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In walking up and Down in a House, only with One in Compan[y]

if he be Greater than yourself, at the first give him the Right hand

and Stop not till he does and be not the first that turns,

and when you do turn let it be with your face towards him,

if he be a Man of Great Quality, walk not with him Cheek by Joul

but Somewhat behind him; but yet in Such a Manner

that he may easily Speak to you.

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Be not immodest in urging your Freinds to Discover a Secret.

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Utter not base and frivilous things amongst grave and Learn'd Men

nor very Difficult Questians or Subjects,

among the Ignorant or things hard to be believed,

Stuff not your Discourse with Sentences

amongst your Betters nor Equals.

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Reprehend not the imperfections of others

​for that belong[s] to Parents Masters and Superiours.​

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Gaze not on the marks or blemishes of Others

and ask not how they came. What you may Speak in Secret

​to your Friend deliver not before others.

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Our interpretation of this rule includes the following:

• ​Always tell the truth - even when you might get in trouble in the end.
• Find a way to keep things positive, even when you might feel otherwise.  Insulting another person is not an option.
• Criticism is meant for improvement.  Without it, we cannot honestly learn from our mistakes.
• Teasing is not the same as mocking and insulting.
• Treat others in the same manner as which you would like to be treated.
• Do not gossip.
• Refuse to listen to gossip.
• Do not curse.
• If someone has let you in on a secret, keep it.
• The relationships that other people have or want to have are mostly their business.  You are not in control of the friendships of others.  Accept it.
• When in conversation or discussion, stay on the topic.
• Build on the comments of others.
• Remember you are not in charge of the actions or words of other students.