Tag: the voice of God is government

The characteristics of conversation
1. Our language must always be educated, decent and respectful, no matter how close we are to the person or persons listening to us.
2. An educated man must speak with moderation and without raising his voice. Do not overdo it. If you speak with too low a voice, others might think you are shy or insecure. If you raise your voice much, they might think you are presumptuous. For women, the sweetness of their voice is not only a sign of education, it can also be very attractive.
3. Always face the person you are speaking to. They who have the bad habit of not looking at the people listening to them show very little respect, insincerity and hypocrisy.
4. We must not forget about courtesy in conversation. When we speak to elderly people, we should never answer YES or NO, without adding the word sir, madam, miss, etc.
5. Be discreet. That is a rare and precious quality. Say what you must or can say, do not say more.
6. Do not ever interrupt the person talking. That is unforgiveable for educated people.
7. Be modest. “If you would have people speak well of you, then do not speak well of yourself.”

On conversation – The importance thereof

Conversation is an exchange of ideas about different topics. We mutually communicate our thoughts and feelings, nested in our minds and hearts.
Conversation can give us pleasant moments in our daily lives. We ease many situations, and at the same time we gather a lot of knowledge.
When conversing, we should respect the others’ opinions and, above all, when we speak with people who are experts in certain matters, we have to try to learn and not argue.
They who argue just for the sake of it, or simply because it is easy, are foolish, and the intelligent people who listen to them, instead of taking them seriously, will despise them.
It is more dignified to talk little and well, than much and poorly. When you have not got a good grasp of a subject, your silence and assent will be the most elegant position.
As on al the other occasions, always respect the opinion of the elderly, the ladies and the professionals, and, even when you notice a mistake, you should not correct them.

On how to behave in public places (continued)

8. Collaborate with your colleagues at work, but without forgetting about your own. “Duty comes first, dedication comes after”.
9. Be thankful for any help you receive, and do not consider it an obligation for the one who gives it to you. Obey your superior’s orders immediately, for it is a duty that ennobles you.
10. When using public transport, be considerate with the elderly; offer them you’re seat when you’re using one.
11. Avoid overcrowding and standing too close to others; if you are not in a hurry, wait for the next vehicle.
12. It is a sign of little class and education to read the newspaper or book of the one sitting next to you.
13. Do not encourage crowding when getting on or off, and don’t forget, no matter how much of a hurry you are in, to give preference to the elderly, and if possible, help them get on or off.
14. Do not converse with a loud voice, drawing attention, as that is typical for common people.
15. Do not smoke when using public transport, for two reasons: because you inconvenience people, and because you could start a fire.

On how to behave in public places

1. When entering an establishment, or an office, if several people are present, greet them in a general manner, and do the same upon leaving the room.
2. Out of courtesy, anyone entering or leaving the room should greet the other, and the others should greet back in a friendly way; “greeting isn’t below you, to the contrary, it ennobles you”.
3. If you need to use the phone for inevitable reasons, keep in mind that it’s not yours exclusively; be brief and do not bother the ones who are working with long conversations.
4. Never raise your voice, nor should you gesticulate ostensibly, because neither will grant you more authority or reason.
5. Be careful with objects and equipment meant for general use. Never violently close any doors or windows, think of how they would react had they any feelings.
6. Spitting in public places is for vulgar, common and rude people, and they who do it show an incivility typical of savages.
7. Sit comfortably at your desk or workplace, but do not ever assume a tired or bored posture.

On how to behave in school

1. We owe affection, obedience and respect to our teachers, as if they were our second parents.
2. Our conduct should irreproachable, so that we will be worthy of the appreciation and admiration of all who form the scholar family.
3. We should never bother about the corrections and reprimands of the teachers. We should know they only do it for our own good and out of care for us.
4. We should faithfully do our homework and duties: we should be exemplary students, both with regards to our studies and our behaviour.
5. Should the teacher not be present in class for whichever reason, our conduct should be identical or better. That is how we show loyalty and grattitude.
6: We should treat our fellow students with true friendship, goodness and consideration. The purest affections and most sincere friendships are born during our time in school.

On how to behave in the temple
The temple is the house of our Lord. It is a place for prayer and withdrawal.

1. When entering the temple, we should be careful not to make any noise, in order to not distract the people present.
2. We should not greet anyone from a distance, and if they were close, a slight nod should suffice.
3. We should not ever take a seat without having genuflected before the big altar. Both man and woman should genuflect for a few seconds before seating themselves.
4. We should follow the priest during Holy Mass and not turn around, nor conversate, as many people do.
5. During the elevation, we should kneel on both knees until the act is done.
6. When standing up we should keep our body straight, and when seated we should not cross our knees.
7. When leaving the temple, if we leave through the main door, we should genuflect towards the big altar.

On how to behave on the street (conclusion)
13. Do not throw papers, fruit peels or other trash on the street. A banana skin, for example, can cause accidents.
14. When we pass in front of a church we should take off our hats as a sign of reverence.
15. We should not greet anyone who is not close to us from afar. We should wait until this person comes closer and bow or curtsy.
16. Be well-mannered at public shows. To whistle or shout out loud is not becoming of well-educated people.
17. We should be respectful in conversation and greeting towards ladies and the elderly.

On how to behave on the street (sequel)

7. Do not mistreat the gardens, do not paint on or scratch the doors and walls of houses.
8. We should never look through windows of other people’s house to see what’s inside.
9. Be decent in the way you walk and mind your words out of respect for those older than you, especially for the ladies.
10. It is not correct to detain someone on the street, unless the person in question is very close to you or if it’s a very urgent matter.
11. To avoid accidents, be careful when crossing the street.
12. We should be generous with the elderly and the blind. We should give them a hand when they want to cross the street.

On how to behave on the street
1. We have to respect our fellow man. We should not laugh out loud, nor shout, nor run. That attitude is unbecoming for a person of our up-bringing.
2. It is a very bad habit to look hard at people walking by, and likewise to turn your head to look at those who have passed by.
3. We should never walk between two or more people who have stopped to talk. If it’s absolutely inevitable to do so, with courtesy we should say “excuse me”.
4. Always give way to people older than you.
5. If you have to speak to someone, try not to get in the way of others passing by.
6. Do not spit on the pavement, nor on the street.

On how to behave with our neighbours

1. Our neighbours deserve respect, consideration and affection, because they live very near to our homes.
2. While it is true that one can do as he pleases in the privacy of their own home, we should try to respect other people’s rest.
3. Well-educated children should not go out on the street to play and shout, disturbing the neighbours with their racket, even less so if they are suffering from some kind of pain or misfortune.
4. It’s bad to look at the other houses from your window or terrace.
5. If we are aware that in the house next door there is someone ill or dead, we should try not to throw a party, play loud music, dance, etc. That would be a well-educated sign of affection and consideration for the neighbours.