“I settle down quietly to think about the word ‘courtesy’.” (ODAT, 7 June)
If I act a couple of notches more courteously than I think I need to, I tend to get it right.
I’ve never regretted courtesy.
If one needs to be tough, one can always do it later.
Not entangling myself with sticky people leaves me feeling cleaner afterwards.
It’s the best way to maintain boundaries.