People, in forming their opinions of others, are usually lazy enough to go by whatever is most obvious or whatever chance remark they happen to hear. So the best policy is to dictate to others the opinion you want them to have of you.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]

Style and Substance: A Comedy of Manners, ch. 7 (1986)
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