George Washington's Rules, Rule #37

Working my way through George Washington's Rules, we are up to Rule #37 which states:

 In speaking to men of quality do not

lean nor look them full in the face, nor

approach too near them at lest keep a full pace from them. 

 I think this rule must have been based on societal norms of the time. For instance, nowadays, when you are speaking to someone, leaning toward them and looking them straight in the eye IS considered polite. It is still true, though, that people like to have about 12-18" of personal space.

 

Rule #36 - George Washington's Rules

George Washington's Rules for Civility and Decent Behavior, Rule #36, states:

36th	Artificers & Persons of low Degree ought not to use many ceremonies to Lords, or Others of high Degree but Respect and highly Honor them, and those of high Degree ought to treat them with affability & Courtesy, without Arrogance.

In modern America we do no have "Persons of low Degree" or "Lords, or Others of High Degree". So, translating the meaning to present-day America, where we are all theoretically on an equal plain, this saying would mean that those in humble positions should not treat persons in positions of honor (I'm thinking President, Governor, Senator, etc.) with inappropriate ceremony, but with respect and honor. Those in positions of respected title should treat others with courtesy and without arrogance.

Rule #35 - George Washington's Rules

George Washington's Rules for Civility and Decent Behavior, Rule #35 states:

35th	Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.

Which, in modern English means:

Let your conversation with businessmen be concise.

Rule #34 - GWs Rules for Civility and Decent Behavior

Rule #34 of George Washington's Rules for Civility and Decent Behavior states:

34th

It is good Manners to prefer them to whom we Speak before ourselves especially if they be above us with whom in no Sort we ought to begin.

What I believe is meant here is that we should, as stated in scripture (Philippians 2:3 NASB -

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves .) Consider others as more important than yourselves. I don't know that at this time George was considering Philippians, but I imagine he had been taught the concept.  

 

The other part of his quote, "especially if they be above us", etc., relates, again, to the era in which George lived. Before the United States became its own nation, we lived under British rule, where people had certain social standing and knew where they stood as compared with those they were associating with. One knew if one was with another who was "above" them in the social heirarchy.

29th Rule (George Washington's Rules)

The 29th Rule from George Washington's Rules for Civility and Decent Behavior is:

29th	When you meet with one of Greater Quality than yourself, Stop, and retire especially if it be at a Door or any Straight place to give way for him to Pass.

Now I again consider that George Washington came up with these rules when he was 10, at a time when one's social standing was what it was, and was not affected by character or hard work. That was an entirely different time and a different way of thinking than our present time.  

The way I would apply Rule 29 to the present day would be to defer to scripture, Romans 12:3, where Paul urges each man not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, (NASB), and Philipians 2:3 which says: [Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but] with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; [4]do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

So, basically, my application of Rule 29 is that we should treat others with respect, deferring to them, and treating them the way that we ourselves wish to be treated. (Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. The "golden" rule.) 

George Washington's Rules - #28

This week's Rule is Rule #28:

28th	If any one come to Speak to you while you are are Sitting Stand up though he be your Inferior, and when you Present Seats let it be to every one according to his Degree.

Which seems to mean - if someone comes to speak to you while you are sitting, stand up to speak to him (even if he is your inferior). And when you seat guests who are visiting you, seat them according to their level of importance.

This reflects the thinking of levels of aristocracy that was practiced in Great Britain before the American Revolution, since the colonies were at that time part of Great Britain. 

Washington's Rules - #27

This week's rule is #27 - 

27th

Tis ill manners to bid one more eminent than yourself be covered as well as not to do it to whom it's due Likewise he that makes too much haste to Put on his hat does not well, yet he ought to Put it on at the first, or at most the Second time of being asked; now what is herein Spoken, of Qualification in behavior in Saluting, ought also to be observed in taking of Place, and Sitting down for ceremonies without Bounds is troublesome.

Is this really written in English? Excuse me?

Okay, I think I this reflects the levels of aristocracy in pre-revolution America. I believe I am understanding it to say that it is not appropriate to tell someone more important than yourself to cover himself up, nor to cover the person up yourself. (What does this mean? I'm not sure.)  Likewise it is inappropriate to put your hat on in too much of a hurry (indicating you are in a hurry to leave), or to take a long time to put your hat on if you are asked (to leave if you are asked). Don't make them ask you more than once. Salute when appropriate, but within reason.

George Washington's Rules - #23

George Washington's Rules for Civility and Decent Behavior, Rule #23 says:

23rd	When you see a Crime punished, you may be inwardly Pleased; but always show Pity to the Suffering Offender.

Which to me means we need to learn (and teach our children) to have self control and to display appropriate empathy for a situation, regardless of what our initial internal reaction may be.

George Washington's Rules - Rule #22

George Washington's Rule #22 says:

22nd	Show not yourself glad at the Misfortune of another though he were your enemy.

which means do not be glad over the misfortunes of others, even the misfortunes of your enemies. 

George Washington's Rules - #21

George Washington's Rule #21 seems easy enough, to me, to understand, but I'll go ahead and give you a translation:

21st

Reproach none for the Infirmities of Nature, nor Delight to Put them that have in mind thereof.

To me this seems to mean do not "correct" someone for something they have no control over, whether they are lame and limp, or maybe have a lisp and mis-speak. Don't even draw their attention to the fact that you notice their condition. It's not nice.

George Washington's Rules - #20

George Washington's Rules #20 says:

20th

The Gestures of the Body must be Suited to the discourse you are upon.

Which seems fairly clear: your hand gestures should be appropriate to what you are saying. So, I guess, if you are talking calmly, don't gesture wildly, and vice versa.

George Washington's Rules - #19

George Washington's Rule #19 seems self-explanatory:

19th

Let your Countenance be pleasant but in Serious Matters Somewhat grave.

 
In other words, wear a pleasant expression on your face, but when the situation is serious it is okay for your expression to be serious.

George Washington's Rule #18

George Washington's Rules, Rule #18

18th

Read no Letters, Books, or Papers in Company but when there is a Necessity 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 unasked also look not nigh when another is writing a Letter.

I really don't think this rule will float in today's society. As a home schooler, we live a culture of reading in the presence of others. That might fall into the category of "necessary", however it certainly is a practice that is here to stay in my home.

On the other hand, when I was visiting a certain relative, when I had come 350 miles to visit, I did find it rather rude when he hunkered down in his chair in the living room to read. He said he had scheduled to read at that time for a certain number of pages. It was my opinion that he could have excused himself to a private room for twenty minutes and I never would have missed him (lots of people), but to sit there reading instead of engaging with us was rude.

Same thing applies to cell phones. I find it really rude when I'm in the middle of a meal or a visit with someone and, without a "how do you do", the other person pulls out their phone to read a text or check email. Humph!

And those relatives who, when I arrived for a visit, would just leave the television on and talk over it, or worse yet ignore me and just watch the tube! So I always preferred no television in my living room, or if company visits I turn the TV off for the visit or tell the children to move to the other room's TV to finish the show.

And "Look not nigh when another is writing a Letter" I totally agree with. Don't look at what someone is putting in a personal letter, and don't read emails over another's shoulder. Sadly for our kids, I want them to learn these rules, but we parents cannot let them completely apply while they are in our homes as we must work diligently, constantly, to protect them from dangers they know not of. We need to stay alert to ways they may be going astray. So, yes, I will read what they write. But then I use extreme caution in how I discuss my concerns if my alarms go off. My goal is that they be able to trust my heart, not resent my intrusion.

So that was a long "translation". Hope you enjoyed reading.

George Washington's Rules #17

I am working my way through George Washington's Rules, the way he stated them, and then how we might say them.

17th	Be no Flatterer, neither Play with any that delights not to be Play'd Withal.

Don't be a flatterer, and don't fool around with things that you know you shouldn't be doing.

George Washington Rule #16

This week's excerpt from George Washington's Rules is Rule #16:

16th	Do not Puff up the Cheeks, Loll not out the tongue, rub the Hands, or beard, thrust out the lips, or bite them or keep the Lips too open or too Close.

 In creating my translation I am going to remember that initially, when George Washington created his rules, he was just ten years old. He continued using the rules, revising them a bit as he aged.

Do not puff your cheeks up with air, or stick out your tongue, or rub your hands or beard. Do not purse out your lips, or bite them, or keep them too wide open or too closed.

What's "too closed"? I have no clue!

Enjoy. 

George Washington's Rules - Rule #15

Today's rule relates to personal grooming.

15th	Keep your Nails clean and Short, also your Hands and Teeth Clean yet without Showing any great Concern for them.

The translation is barely a change from the original. Our first President, as a boy, believed that a person's nails should be kept short and clean, that hands and teeth should be kept clean, but that a person should not obsess about them or become vain about them.

George Washington's Rules - Rule #14

George Washington's Rules for Decency and Civil Behavior -- sometimes they don't make sense to us in today's society, but today's rule seems pretty relevant:

14th	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.

So my translation for today would be:

Don't turn your back toward someone you are with, even if you are angry [this seems to me to be when we would turn our back to someone], and especially when you are speaking (as it becomes difficult for them to hear you). Never bump the table where someone is reading or writing, and do not lean on someone. [That does not apply to soldiers who are injured, but rather think about sitting next to someone on an airplane or in church, and suddenly they are leaning on you...]

George Washington's Rules, #13

George Washington's Rules

Rule #13 and its translation:

13th	Kill no Vermin as Fleas, lice, ticks etc. in the Sight of Others, if you See any filth or thick Spittle put your foot Dexterously upon it if it be upon the Cloths of your Companions, Put it off privately, and if it be upon your own Cloths return Thanks to him who puts it off.

Now, frankly, this rule is not as necessary now as it once must have been, and I'm going to comment below. But here is my translation:

If you detect a bug crawling on you, leave the room to attend to it (go to the bathroom to remove the tick, etc.). If you see something nasty on your shoe, inconspicuously cover it with your other foot. If you see food on your companion's clothes, privately draw him aside and remove it. If someone else does the same for you, thank him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, this is a lot. I wonder why George W. put it all in one rule. But anyway, the "Kill no Vermin in the sight of others" rule I certainly do not agree with. Can you imagine mosquitoes biting you and just watching without a twitch? I'd even swat a mosquito that was biting the friend I was with. And so often one needs help removing a tick, and you need to go wherever the light is good. I guess I am not cut out to be a politician!

George Washington's Rules #12

Rule #12 and its translation:

12th	Shake not the head, Feet, or Legs roll not the Eyes lift not one eyebrow higher than the other wry not the mouth, and bedew no mans face with your Spittle, by approaching too near him when you Speak.

Do not shake your head, feet or legs, nor roll your eyes, nor cock your eyebrow or make a wry expression on your face. Do not spray spittle on anyone's face when you speak by speaking too close to him.
 

George Washington's Rules - #11

Here is Rule #11 from George Washington's Rules for Decency and Civil Behavior, and its translation:

11th	Shift not yourself in the Sight of others nor Gnaw your nails.

In other words, when you are where someone can see you, sit still (do not squirm or shift), and do not chew on your nails. 

I shift when I need to in someone else's presence; I need to when my back hurts. I guess one might infer, by part 2, that George thought it was okay to "attend" to your nails by chewing, just not when someone was watching...?