To sacrifice the principles of manners, which require compassion and respect, and bat people over the head with their ignorance of etiquette rules they cannot be expected to know is both bad manners and poor etiquette. That social climbers and twits have misused etiquette throughout history should not be used as an argument for doing away with it.
Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
Miss Manners Rescues Civilization, ch. 1 “The Case Against Etiquette” (1996)
(Source)
Quotations about:
social climber
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
He may have gone quite far in our society, but no matter how far one goes, one cannot avoid bringing oneself along.
Peter David (b. 1956) American writer
Babylon 5: Legions of Fire III – Out of the Darkness (2000)
If that’s his humour, trust me, I shall spare
No kind of pains to win admittance there:
I’ll bribe his porter; if denied to-day,
I’ll not desist, but try some other way:
I’ll watch occasions — linger in his suite,
Waylay, salute, huzzah him through the street.
Nothing of consequence beneath the sun
Without great labour ever yet was done.[Haud mihi dero:
muneribus servos corrumpam; non, hodie si
exclusus fuero, desistam; tempora quaeram,
occurram in triviis, deducam. Nil sine magno
vita labore dedit mortalibus]Horace (65-8 BC) Roman poet, satirist, soldier, politician [Quintus Horatius Flaccus]
Satires [Saturae, Sermones], Book 1, # 9, “Ibam forte Via Sacra,” l. 56ff (1.9.56-60) (35 BC) [tr. Howes (1845)]
(Source)
A pesky bore and would-be social climber, describing his determination to wheedle his way into the social circle of Horace's friend, Maecenas.
The last line was an old saying, found at least as early as Hesiod, Works and Days, l. 287 (c. 700 BC).
(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:I will not fayle. Brybes shall corrupte his chéefist serving men:
Though once or twice the gates be shut I will not cease yet then:
Ile wayte my opportunitie, to meete him in the ways,
To leade him home, to curtsey him, and cap him when he stayes.
There is no good for to be borne, whilste we are lyuyng here:
Excepte we lye, faune, flatter, face, cap, keele, ducke, crouche, smile, fiere.
[tr. Drant (1567)]Well, to my self I will not wanting be,
I'le watch his hours, his servants I will see;
I will salute his Chariot in the street,
I'le bring him home as often as we meet:
We Courtiers strive for interest in vain,
Unless by long observance it we gain.
[ed. Brome (1666)]Well, when Occasion serves, I'le play my part,
I'le spare no cost and charge, try every Art,
Hang on his Coach, wait on him, all I can,
Bribe, Flatter, Cringe, but I'me resolv'd to gain,
'Tis only Labour, Sir, can raise a Man.
[tr. Creech (1684)]"I sha'n't be wanting there," he cried,
"I'll bribe his servants to my side;
To-day shut out, still onward press,
And watch the seasons of access;
In private haunt, in public meet,
Salute, escort him through the street.
There's nothing gotten in this life,
Without a world of toil and strife."
[tr. Francis (1747)]I will not be wanting to myself; I will corrupt his servants with presents; if I am excluded to-day, I will not desist; I will seek opportunities; I will meet him in the public streets; I will wait upon him home. Life allows nothing to mortals without great labor.
[tr. Smart/Buckley (1853)]Oh, I shall do my duty, I will bribe his slaves, I won't give up. If on the day on which I call, he says he's not at home, I'll choose my times, I'll meet him at the crossings of the streets, nay, I'll escort him home; you know life gives man nought without some toil.
[tr. Millington (1870)]No fear of me, sir: a judicious bribe
Will work a wonder with the menial tribe:
Say, I'm refused admittance for to-day;
I'll watch my time; I'll meet him in the way,
Escort him, dog him. In this world of ours
The path to what we want ne'er runs on flowers.
[tr. Conington (1874)]I'll not fail myself. I'll bribe his slaves. If shut out to-day, I'll not give up. I'll look for the fitting time ; I'll meet him in the streets; I'll escort him home. Life grants no boon to man without much toil.
[tr. Fairclough (Loeb) (1926)]I bet I don't fail.
I'll bribe all his servants. I'll keep coming back, pick my times,
Meet him walking in town, join his escort. Nothing
In life comes without labor.
[tr. Palmer Bovie (1959)]I’m confident.
I'll bribe his servants. And if today, for example, I’m
repulsed, I won't quit. I'll find a chance, bump into him
in public, walk places with him; without great labor
life gives us mortals naught.
[tr. Fuchs (1977)]I'll do it, I'll do it! By god, I'll bribe
His slaves, I'll never give up, I'll get
My foot in his door, somehow. I'll watch,
I'll wait, I'll catch him in the street,
I'll follow him home. Nothing worth doing
Is easy, here on earth!
[tr. Raffel (1983)]O I won't spare myself. I'll bribe his slaves.
Should I be kept out, I won't quit.
I'll keep my eye open for the right moment.
I'll run into him at some street-crossing.
I'll escort him home. Without great toil
life grants nothing to mortals.
[tr. Alexander (1999)]I'm on the case. I'll bribe his slaves. If I'm
repelled today, I won't give up, I'll wait
for the right time and meet him in the streets
and then escort him home.
Life grants no man a prize
who doesn't strive and strive.
[tr. Matthews (2002)]I shan't be found wanting.
I'll bribe his servants; and if today they shut me out,
I'll persevere, bide my time, meet him in the street,
escort him home. "Not without unremitting toil
are mortal prizes won."
[tr. Rudd (2005 ed.)]I’ll not fail:
I’ll bribe his servants with gifts: if I’m excluded
Today, I’ll persist: I’ll search out a suitable time,
Encounter him in the street, escort him home. Life grants
Nothing to mortals without a great effort.
[tr. Kline (2015)]
