Judith Martin Quotes

Chaperons don't enforce morality; they force immorality to be discreet.

Judith Martin



Chaperons, even in their days of glory, were almost never able to enforce morality; what they did was to force immorality to be discreet. This is no small contribution.

Judith Martin



Honesty has come to mean the privilege of insulting you to your face without expecting redress.

Judith Martin



Hypocrisy is not generally a social sin, but a virtue.

Judith Martin



If written directions alone would suffice, libraries wouldn't need to have the rest of the universities attached.

Judith Martin



Indeed, Miss Manners has come to believe that the basic political division in this country is not between liberals and conservatives but between those who believe that they should have a say in the love lives of strangers and those who do not.

Judith Martin



It's far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help.

Judith Martin