Washington on Cultivating Character

8/11/2019 Washington on Cultivating Character

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Transcript below, with teenage Georges original typos (long beforetyping as we know it, of course) preserved.

1.very !ction done in "o#pany, ought to be with $o#e $ign of%espect, to those that are &resent.

2.'hen in "o#pany, put not your ands to any &art of the ody, notusualy *iscovered.

3.$hew +othing to your reind that #ay a-right hi#.4. n the &resence of /thers $ing not to yourself with a hu##ing +oise,

nor *ru# with your ingers or eet.5. f 0ou "ough, $nee1e, $igh, or 0awn, do it not 2oud but &rivately3 and

$peak not in your 0awning, but put 0our handkercheif or andbefore your face and turn aside.

6.$leep not when others $peak, $it not when others stand, $peak notwhen you $hould hold your &eace, walk not on when others $top.

7.&ut not o- your "loths in the presence of /thers, nor go out your"ha#ber half *rest.

8.!t &lay and at ire its Good #anners to Give &lace to the last"o##er, and a-ect not to $peak 2ouder than /rdinary.

9.$pit not in the ire, nor $toop low before it neither &ut your andsinto the la#es to war# the#, nor $et your eet upon the ireespecially if there be #eat before it.

10. 'hen you $it down, 4eep your eet 5r# and ven, withoutputting one on the other or "rossing the#.

11. $hift not yourself in the $ight of others nor Gnaw your nails.

12. $hake not the head, eet, or 2egs rowl not the ys lift not oneeyebrow higher than the other wry not the #outh, and bedew no#ans face with your $pittle, by appr6oaching too nea7r hi#6when7 you $peak.

13. 4ill no 8er#in as leas, lice ticks 9c in the $ight of /thers, if you$ee any 5lth or thick $pittle put your foot *e:teriously upon it if itbe upon the "loths of your "o#panions, &ut it o- privately, and ifit be upon your own "loths return Thanks to hi# who puts it o-.

14. Turn not your ack to others especially in $peaking, ;og not theTable or *esk on which !nother reads or writes, lean not upon

any one.15. 4eep your +ails clean and $hort, also your ands and Teeth "lean

yet without $hewing any great "oncern for the#.16. *o not &u- up the "heeks, 2oll not out the tongue rub the ands,

or beard, thrust out the lips, or bite the# or keep the 2ips tooopen or too "lose.

17. e no latterer, neither &lay with any that delights not to be


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&layd 'ithal.18. %ead no 2etters, ooks, or &apers in "o#pany but when there is a

+ecessity for the doing of it you #ust ask leave< co#e not nearthe ooks or 'ritings of !nother so as to read the# unlessdesired or give your opinion of the# unaskd also look not nigh

when another is writing a 2etter.19. let your "ountenance be pleasant but in $erious =atters

$o#ewhat grave.20. The Gestures of the ody #ust be $uited to the discourse you are

upon.21. %eproach none for the n5r#aties of +ature, nor *elight to &ut

the# that have in #ind thereof.22. $hew not yourself glad at the =isfortune of another though he

were your ene#y.23. 'hen you see a "ri#e punished, you #ay be inwardly &leased3

but always shew &ity to the $u-ering /-ender.24. 6*o not laugh too loud or7 too #uch at any &ublick 6$pectacle7.25. $uper>uous "o#ple#ents and all !-ectation of "ere#onie are to

be avoided, yet where due they are not to be +eglected.26. n &ulling o- your at to &ersons of *istinction, as +oble#en,

;ustices, "hurch#en 9c #ake a %everence, bowing #ore or lessaccording to the "usto# of the etter red, and ?uality of the&erson. !#ongst your e@uals e:pect not always that they $houldbegin with you 5rst, but to &ull o- the at when there is no needis !-ectation, in the =anner of $aluting and resaluting in words

keep to the #ost usual "usto#.27. Tis ill #anners to bid one #ore e#inent than yourself be covered

as well as not to do it to who# its due 2ikewise he that #akestoo #uch haste to &ut on his hat does not well, yet he ought to&ut it on at the 5rst, or at #ost the $econd ti#e of being askd3now what is herein $poken, of ?uali5cation in behaviour in$aluting, ought also to be observed in taking of &lace, and $ittingdown for cere#onies without ounds is troubleso#e.

28. f any one co#e to $peak to you while you are are $itting $tandup tho he be your nferiour, and when you &resent $eats let it be

to every one according to his *egree.29. 'hen you #eet with one of Greater ?uality than yourself, $top,

and retire especially if it be at a *oor or any $traight place to giveway for hi# to &ass.

30. n walking the highest &lace in #ost "ountrys $ee#s to be on theright hand therefore &lace yourself on the left of hi# who# youdesire to onour< but if three walk together the #id6dest7 &lace is


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the #ost onourable the wall is usually given to the #ost worthyif two walk together.

31. f any one far $urpassess others, either in age, state, or =erit6yet7 would give &lace to a #eaner than hi#s6elf in his ownlodging or elsewhere7 the one ought not to e:cept it, $6o he on

the other part should not use #uch earnestness nor o-er7 itabove once or twice.

32. To one that is your e@ual, or not #uch inferior you are to give thecheif &lace in your 2odging and he to who tis o-ered ought at the5rst to refuse it but at the $econd to accept though not withoutacknowledging his own unworthiness.

33. They that are in *ignity or in oAce have in all places &receedencybut whilst they are 0oung they ought to respect those that aretheir e@uals in irth or other ?ualitys, though they have no&ublick charge.

34. t is good =anners to prefer the# to who# we $peak befo6re7ourselves especially if they be above us with who# in no $ort weought to begin.

35. 2et your *iscourse with =en of usiness be $hort and"o#prehensive.

36. !rti5cers 9 &ersons of low *egree ought not to use #anycere#onies to 2ords, or /thers of high *egree but %espect andhigh6ly7 onour the#, and those of high *egree ought to treatthe# with aAbility 9 "ourtesie, without !rrogancy.

37. n $peaking to #en of ?uality do not lean nor 2ook the# full in

the ace, nor approach too near the# at lest 4eep a full &acefro# the#.

38. n visiting the $ick, do not &resently play the &hysicion if you benot 4nowing therein.

39. n writing or $peaking, give to every &erson his due Title!ccording to his *egree 9 the "usto# of the &lace.

40. $trive not with your $uperiers in argu#ent, but always $ub#ityour ;udg#ent to others with =odesty.

41. Bndertake not to Teach your e@ual in the art hi#self &ro-esses3 it$avours of arrogancy.

42. 62et thy cere#onies in7 "ourtesie be proper to the *ignity of hisplace 6with who# thou conversest for it is absurd to ac7t thesa#e with a "lown and a &rince.

43. *o not e:press ;oy before one sick or in pain for that contrary&assion will aggravate his =isery.

44. 'hen a #an does all he can though it $ucceeds not well bla#enot hi# that did it.


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45. eing to advise or reprehend any one, consider whether it oughtto be in publick or in &rivate3 presently, or at $o#e other ti#e inwhat ter#s to do it 9 in reproving $hew no $ign of "holar but doit with all $weetness and =ildness.

46. Take all !d#onitions thankfully in what Ti#e or &lace $oever

given but afterwards not being culpable take a Ti#e 697 &laceconvenient to let hi# hi# know it that gave the#.

47. =ock not nor ;est at any thing of #portance break 6n7o ;est thatare $harp iting and if you *eliver any thing witty and &leasentabtain fro# 2aughing thereat yourself.

48. 'herein wherein you reprove !nother be unbla#eable yourself3for e:a#ple is #ore prevalent than &recepts.

49. Bse no %eproachfull 2anguage against any one neither "urse nor%evile.

50. e not hasty to beleive >ying %eports to the *isparag6e7#ent of

any.51. 'ear not your "loths, foul, unript or *usty but $ee they be

rushd once every day at least and take heed tha6t7 youapproach not to any Bncleaness.

52. n your !pparel be =odest and endeavour to acco#odate +ature,rather than to procure !d#iration keep to the ashio6n7 of youre@uals $uch as are "ivil and orderly with respect to Ti#es and&laces.

53. %un not in the $treets, neither go t6oo s7lowly nor wit6h7 =outhopen go not $haking yr !r#s 6kick not the earth with yr feet, go7

not upon the Toes, nor in a *ancing 6fashion7.54. &lay not the &eacock, looking every where about you, to $ee if

you be well *eckt, if your $hoes 5t well if your $tokings sitneatly, and "loths handso#ely.

55. at not in the $treets, nor in the ouse, out of $eason.56. !ssociate yourself with =en of good ?uality if you stee# your

own %eputation3 for tis better to be alone than in bad "o#pany.57. n walking up and *own in a ouse, only with /ne in "o#pan6y7 if

he be Greater than yourself, at the 5rst give hi# the %ight handand $top not till he does and be not the 5rst that turns, and when

you do turn let it be with your face towards hi#, if he be a =an ofGreat ?uality, walk not with hi# "heek by ;oul but $o#ewhatbehind hi#3 but yet in $uch a =anner that he #ay easily $peak toyou.

58. 2et your "onversation be without =alice or nvy, for tis a $ig6no7f a Tractable and "o##endable +ature< !nd in all "auses of&assion 6ad7#it %eason to Govern.


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59. +ever e:press anything unbeco#ing, nor !ct agst the %ules=ora6l7 before your inferiours.

60. e not i##odest in urging your reinds to *iscover a $ecret.61. Btter not base and frivilous things a#ongst grave and 2earnd

=en nor very *iAcult ?uestians or $ubCects, a#ong the gnorant

or things hard to be believed, $tu- not your *iscourse with$entences a#ongst your etters nor @uals.

62. $peak not of doleful Things in a Ti#e of =irth or at the Table3$peak not of =elancholy Things as *eath and 'ounds, and ifothers =ention the# "hange if you can the *iscourse tell notyour *rea#s, but to your inti#ate riend.

63. ! =an o6ug7ht not to value hi#self of his !tchieve#ents, or rare?ua6lities of wit3 #uch less of his rich7es 8irtue or 4indred.

64. reak not a ;est where none take pleasure in #irth 2augh notaloud, nor at all without /ccasion, deride no #ans =isfortune,

tho there $ee# to be $o#e cause.65. $peak not inCurious 'ords neither in ;est nor arnest $co- at

none although they give /ccasion.66. e not froward but friendly and "ourteous3 the 5rst to $alute hear

and answer 9 be not &ensive when its a ti#e to "onverse.67. *etract not fro# others neither be e:cessive in "o##anding.68. Go not thither, where you know not, whether you $hall be

'elco#e or not. Give not !dvice with6out7 being !skd 9 whendesired 6d7o it brie>y.

69. f two contend together take not the part of either

unconstrain6ed73 and be not obstinate in your own /pinion, inThings indiferent be of the =aCor $ide.

70. %eprehend not the i#perfections of others for that belong6s7 to&arents =asters and $uperiours.

71. Ga1e not on the #arks or ble#ishes of /thers and ask not howthey ca#e. 'hat you #ay $peak in $ecret to your riend delivernot before others.

72. $peak not in an unknown Tongue in "o#pany but in your own2anguage and that as those of ?uality do and not as the 8ulgar3$ubli#e #atters treat $eriously.

73. Think before you $peak pronounce not i#perfectly nor bring ou6t7your 'ords too hastily but orderly 9 distinctly.

74. 'hen !nother $peaks be attentive your $elf and disturb not the!udience if any hesitate in his 'ords help hi# not nor &ro#pthi# without desired, nterrupt hi# not, nor !nswer hi# till his$peec6h7 be ended.

75. n the #idst of *iscourse ask 6not of what one treateth7 but if you


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&erceive any $top because of 6your co#ing you #ay well intreathi# gently7 to &roceed< f a &erson of ?uality co#es in while your"onversing its handso#e to %epeat what was said before.

76. 'hile you are talking, &oint not with your inger at hi# of 'ho#you *iscourse nor !pproach too near hi# to who# you talk

especially to his face.77. Treat with #en at 5t Ti#es about usiness 9 'hisper not in the

"o#pany of /thers.78. =ake no "o#parisons and if any of the "o#pany be "o##ended

for any brave act of 8ertue, co##end not another for the $a#e.79. e not apt to relate +ews if you know not the truth thereof. n

*iscoursing of things you ave heard +a#e not your !uthoralways ! 6$e7cret *iscover not.

80. e not Tedious in *iscourse or in reading unless you 5nd the"o#pany pleased therewith.

81. e not "urious to 4now the !-airs of /thers neither approachthose that $peak in &rivate.

82. Bndertake not what you cannot &erfor# but be "arefull to keepyour &ro#ise.

83. 'hen you deliver a #atter do it without &assion 9 with*iscretion, howev6er7 #ean the &erson be you do it too.

84. 'hen your $uperiours talk to any ody hearken not neither$peak nor 2augh.

85. n "o#pany of these of igher ?uality than yourself $peak notti6l7 you are askd a ?uestion then $tand upright put of your at

9 !nswer in few words.86. n *isputes, be not $o *esireous to /verco#e as not to give

2iberty to each one to deliver his /pinion and $ub#it to the;udg#ent of the =aCor &art especially if they are ;udges of the*ispute.

87. 62et thy carriage be such7 as beco#es a =an Grave $ettled andattentive 6to that which is spoken. "ontra7dict not at every turnwhat others $ay.

88. e not tedious in *iscourse, #ake not #any *igressigns, norrep6eat7 often the $a#e #anner of *iscourse.

89. $peak not vil of the absent for it is unCust.90. eing $et at #eat $cratch not neither $pit "ough or blow your

+ose e:cept theres a +ecessity for it.91. =ake no $hew of taking great *elight in your 8ictuals, eed no6t7

with Greediness3 cut your read with a 4nife, lean not on theTable neither 5nd fault with what you at.

92. Take no $alt or cut read with your 4nife Greasy.


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93. ntertaining any one at table it is decent to present hi# wt.#eat, Bndertake not to help others undesired by the =aster.

94. f you $oak bread in the $auce let it be no #ore than what you6pu7t in your =outh at a ti#e and blow not your broth at Table6bu7t $tay till "ools of it $elf.

95. &ut not your #eat to your =outh with your 4nife in your ha6ndne7ither $pit forth the $tones of any fruit &ye upon a *ish nor"as6t an7ything under the table.

96. ts unbeco#ing to $toop #uch to ones =eat 4eep your ingersclea6n 97 when foul wipe the# on a "orner of your Table +apkin.

97. &ut not another bit into your =outh til the for#er be $wallowed6l7et not your =orsels be too big for the Gowls.

98. *rink not nor talk with your #outh full neither Ga1e about youwhile you are a *rinking.

99. *rink not too leisurely nor yet too hastily.efore and after

*rinking wipe your 2ips breath not then or ver with too Great a+oise, for its uncivil.

100. "leanse not your teeth with the Table "loth +apkin ork or 4nifebut if /thers do it let it be done wt.

101. a &ick Tooth.

102. %ince not your =outh in the &resence of /thers.103. t is out of use to call upon the "o#pany often to at nor need

you *rink to others every Ti#e you *rink.104. n "o#pany of your etters be no6t longer in eating7 than they

are lay not your !r# but o6nly your hand upon the table7.105. t belongs to the "hiefest in "o#pany to unfold his +apkin and

fall to =eat 5rst, ut he ought then to egin in ti#e 9 to *ispatch6w7ith *e:terity that the $lowest #ay have ti#e allowed hi#.

106. e not !ngry at Table whatever happens 9 if you have reason tobe so, $hew it not but on a "hearfull "ountenance especially ifthere be $trangers for Good u#our #akes one *ish of =eat aeas6t7.

107. $et not yourself at the upper of the Table but if it e your *ue orthat the =aster of the house will have it $o, "ontend not, least

you $hould Trouble the "o#pany.108. f others talk at Table be attentive but talk not with =eat in your

=outh.109. 'hen you $peak of God or his !tributes, let it be $eriously 9 6wt.7

%everence.110. onour 9 /bey your +atural &arents altho they be &oor.

111. 2et your %ecreations be =anfull not $infull.


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112. 2abour to keep alive in your reast that 2ittle $park of "e6les7tial5re "alled "onscience.

113.

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Washington on Cultivating Character

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