George Washington's Rules of Civility

George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior ...

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Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior In Company and ...
Papers of George Washington
George Washington's Rules of Civility by Moncure D. Conway ...
George Washington's Rules of Civility (Memory): American Treasures ...

I skimmed through the book quickly again yesterday, while at Border's. Most of it is still relevant today, I would think. Is etiquette more than just showing consideration for others? I would think so, even if consideration is a major part of etiquette. What sets us apart from the brute animals? Reason. To act in a way to show the influence of reason, gracefully or with refinement.

While it is true that manners do differ across cultures and societies, I would think that common to all are (1) restraint, self-control with respect to certain desires and actions, (2) expression/communication, (3) acts proper to the virtues allied to justice...

What else? I'll have to think about it more...

One of the more well-known Renaissance guides is byBaldassare Castiglione, Book of the Courtier. I remember that this was a popular genre during the Renaissance period (as well as the late medieval?), but this is the only work that I can find online and at Amazon.
The Book of the Courtier

Answers.com mentions Erasmus' De Civilitate Morum Puerilium and Giovanni Della Casa's Il Galateo.

Manners, Customs, and Dress During the Middle Ages, and During the ...

The American gentleman's guide to politeness and fashion, or, Familiar letters to his nephews (1864) (pdf, txt)
Rudeness and Civility: Manners in 19th Century Urban America by John F. Kasson (Hardcover - Jun 1990)
The ‘Net Guide to 19th Century Courtship And Manners, by Emma Moniz

Etiquette & the Regency Period
Review of The Mirror of Graces
R.L. Shep Publications

Some more contemporary guides:
The Urban Etiquette Handbook -- New York Magazine
The Emily Post Institute offers etiquette advice and manners advice
Miss Etiquette advice, business manners, wedding etiquette.

Maria Elena Vidal has some discussions about etiquette at her blog, Tea at Trianon.

Related Links:
Jane Austen's World
Benjamin Franklin: Yale editon of complete works; Project Gutenberg
Dance Instruction Manuals
Western Social Dance
From the wiki entry on etiquette: Are Paris Waiters Rude Or Is It You?
Japan FAQ--Japanese Manners and Etiquette
Table Etiquette and Manners
Guide to Japanese manners and etiquette
China: A History of the Laws, Manners and Customs of the People

Misc Links:
Erasmus Center for Early Modern Studies