The way in which we say something is often more important than what we say.

Manners are of more importance than laws. 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.

As a general rule, a reputation is built on manner as much as on achievement.

The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.

Manners are of more importance than laws. The law can touch us here and there, now and then. 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.

In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.

how I conveyed information was often as important as the information itself.

In the occult, good manners matter, as they do in life, and perhaps even more so.

tone is very important. How you say things matters.

You had better refuse a favor gracefully, than to grant it clumsily. Manner is all, in everything: it is by manner only that you can please, and consequently rise. All your Greek will never advance you from secretary to envoy, or from envoy to ambassador; but your address, your manner, your air, if good, very probably may.

The treatment of the subject is considered to be more important than the subject itself.

we have to behave as if everything we do matters. Because it might.

When people in authority want the rest of us to behave, it matters — first and foremost — how they behave.

But to me, an exercise in style is not a superficial matter – our lives are also an exercise in style.