Never tell a coarse story. No wit or preface can make it excusable.

Tell a story, if at all, only as an illustration, and not for itself.
Tell it accurately.

Be careful in asking questions for the purpose of starting
conversation or drawing out a person, not to be rude or intrusive.

Never take liberties by staring, or by any rudeness.

Never infringe upon any established regulations among strangers.

Do not always prove yourself to be the one in the right. The right
will appear. You need only give it a chance.

Avoid argument in conversation. It is discourteous to your host.

Cultivate paradoxes in conversation with your peers. They add interest
to common-place matters. To strike the harmless faith of ordinary
people in any public idol is waste, but such a movement with those
able to reply is better.

Never discourse upon your ailments.

Never use words of the meaning or pronunciation of which you are
uncertain.

Avoid discussing your own or other people's domestic concerns.

Never prompt a slow speaker, as if you had all the ability. In