Morals and Manners

In the day-to-day living of life there is always the question of morals and manners. “To have respect for ourselves guides our morals,” said Lawrence Sterne, “and to have a deference for others govern our manners.” Manners in some measure reflect morals and both depend upon some basic concepts. With lack of morals, there is likely to be a letting down of manners.

Part of a person’s self-respect centers in what he believes he is, and what he believes others are; and whether he believes he is a mere mechanism, or an eternal man, makes much difference. An awareness of a real relationship to an Eternal Father would lead to reverence and respect and would reflect itself in morals and manners. An awareness of a real and everlasting relationship with loved ones would also reflect itself in morals and manners.

How blest the home, the family where there is gentleness, respect, kindness, courtesy. “Life is not so short,” said Emerson, “but that there is always time enough for courtesy.” A person who thinks that life is for a few brief years, and then forever gone and forgotten would likely less respect himself⎯or others⎯than one who knows that life is everlasting, that loved ones are everlasting, that what we are, we shall take with us into eternity.

Also, he who really respects himself, would be less likely to partake of that which would impair his physical functioning, less likely do that which would disquiet his conscience. He who respects himself would not let degrading, enslaving habits take over his life. And he who really respects himself would have respect and deference for others also; for we all have the same relationship to Him who made us in His own image.

“Manners,” said Edmund Burke, “are of more importance than laws. Upon them, in a great measure, the laws depend…. Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarize or refine us, by a constant, steady, uniform, insensible operation, like that of the air we breathe in.” “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and… thy neighbour as thyself,” said the Savior of mankind, which means respect of God, of self, and of others also in morals and in manners.