| George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation (Little Books of Wisdom) | 
 enlarge | Author: George Washington
Publisher: Applewood Books(MA)
Category: Book
List Price: $9.95
Buy New: $3.00
You Save: $6.95 (70%)
New (32) Used (14) from $3.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 85511
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 36
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.5 x 4.3 x 0.4
ISBN: 155709103X
Dewey Decimal Number: 395
EAN: 9781557091031
ASIN: 155709103X
Publication Date: August 1, 1989
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Copied out by hand as a young man aspiring to the status of Gentleman, George Washington's 110 rules were based on a set of rules composed by French Jesuits in 1595. The first English edition of these rules was available in Francis Hawkins' Youths Behavior, or Decency in Conversation Amongst Men, which appeared in 1640, and it is from work that Washington seems to have copied. The rules as Washington wrote them out are a simplified version of this text. However much he may have simplified them, these precepts had a strong influence on Washington, who aimed to always live by them. The rules focus on self-respect and respect for others through details of etiquette. The rules offer pointers on such issues as how to dress, walk, eat in public, and address one's superiors.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 Washington's "Rules" are good copywork May 15, 2008
George Washington's "Rules' are not his at all. The original material in this little volume is thought to have been inspired by rules composed by French Jesuits in 1595. The first English translation of the French rules appeared in 1640, and are ascribed to Francis Hawkins, the twelve-year-old son of a doctor. They come to us as part of a larger volume of copywork, written out by George as assigned by a tutor, and was a method of teaching common to his day. Copywork is the practice of copying good quality writing for practice in both penmanship and composition. Many of today's homeschoolers carry on the tradition of daily copywork. Though George Washington didn't compose the rules, they were certainly popularized after he recopied them.
Great Book for Boys February 9, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I bought this book on a trip to Washington DC. I was facinated with the book, but I had no idea that my 4 year old son would find it so interesting. Boys love rules and they want to know what the rules are, who made them, and why. Although a lot of the rules are somewhat dated, most can still be applied to daily life. My son loves to have these rules read to him and reminds me when I break one. If he remembers even one and hesitates to break it in the future then the book will have been worth its price.
 Disappointing May 14, 2007
Very small, 6" x 3.5" maybe 30 pages. Should be descibed and a hard cover pamphlet.
Ageless advice for "civil" conduct. November 22, 2003
15 out of 19 found this review helpful
Whether this little 30 page book is worth the price or whether George Washington copied these as a penmanship excercise from an english translation of some 16th century French Jesuit writings is immaterial. After you read these "Rules of Civility" you will feel like carrying this little red book around with you and handing it to rude people to read Rule # 1 "Every action done in company aught to be with some sign of respect to those that are present." How can our kids and grandkids get exposed to this kind of thinking?
 Freely available July 5, 2002
18 out of 35 found this review helpful
George Washington is one of few people in the history of the world to lead a major revolution for freedom and then not "betray the revolution". For that we owe him all the reverence he gets and then some. But as to his being some sort of brilliant 14-year old with these tremendous insights, it's not correct. Washington copied these rules from a translation of a work produced in the 1500's by Jesuits. The Jesuits actually had a few more. Unfortunately, we can't really give him credit for recognizing the importance of the rules and feeling a need to copy them - the copy was most likely assigned as an exercise in penmanship.BTW, the rules are available all over the web for free.
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