Fatherly Advice

Happy Father's Day!

This week,
we'll share a little wisdom from the
Father of our Country,
​George Washington.

When he was a teenager,
Washington copied down 110
"Rules of Civility"
which he adapted from a
set of popular rules developed by
French Jesuits in the 16th Century.

Several of these guidelines
could still
help us with our
purple conversations
today! 

Here are a few highlights 
from www.mountvernon.org... 

RULE NO. 22
Shew not yourself glad at the
Misfortune of another though he were your enemy.

RULE NO. 50
Be not hasty to beleive
flying Reports to the Disparag[e]ment of any.

RULE NO. 58
Let your Conversation be without Malice or Envy,
for 'tis a Sig[n o]f a Tractable and Commendable Nature:
And in all Causes of Passion [ad]mit Reason to Govern.

RULE NO. 65
Speak not injurious Words neither in Jest nor Earnest
Scoff at none although they give Occasion.

RULE NO. 73
Think before you Speak pronounce not imperfectly
nor bring ou[t] your Words too hastily but orderly & distinctly.

RULE NO. 74
When Another Speaks be attentive your Self and disturb not the Audience if any hesitate in his Words help him not nor Prompt him without desired,
Interrupt him not,
nor Answer him till his Speec[h] be ended.

RULE NO. 76
While you are talking, Point not with your Finger at him of Whom you Discourse nor Approach too near him to whom you talk especially to his face.

RULE NO. 86
In Disputes, be not So Desireous to Overcome
as not to give Liberty to each one to deliver his Opinion
and Submit to the Judgment of the Major Part especially if they are Judges of the Dispute.

RULE NO. 89
Speak not Evil of the absent for it is unjust.

RULE NO. 105
Be not Angry at Table whatever happens & if you have reason to be so, shew it not but on a Chearfull Countenance especially if there be Strangers for Good Humour makes one Dish of Meat a Feas[t].

And, George Washington's final rule of civility...

RULE NO. 110
Labour to keep alive in your Breast that
Little Spark of Ce[les]tial fire Called Conscience.

Let's try to keep that
"little spark of celestial fire"
burning brightly
as we all work
together
to treat each other with
greater civility!