Note to As You Like It, 3.2.41: "good manners"


Return
to
As You Like It,
Act 3, Scene 2, line 41.
good manners: (1) proper deportment; (2) sound morals. —Currently (C.E. 2017) we use the word "manners" to signify deportment (the socially acceptable things to say and do), but the other meaning still survives in the syndicated "Miss Manners" advice column published in United States newspapers. Miss Manners gives advice on deportment, manners and approriate behavior, but more often she makes comments (some of them rather sharp) on morality, implying that there is a moral base to manners. She is particularly offended by people who use celebrations (birthday, wedding, anniversary, etc.) as an excuse to extract cash from their family and friends. She considers such persons to be guilty of not only questionable manners, but questionable morals as well.