Civility is a desire to receive civilities, and to be accounted well-bred.
There are people who balk at small civilities on account of their manifest insincerity. . . . It is better and more logical to accept all the polite phraseology which facilitates intercourse, and contributes to the sweetness of life. If we discarded the formal falsehoods which are the currency of conversation, we should not be one step nearer the vital things of truth.
Love taught him shame, and shame with love at strife Soon taught the sweet civilities of life.
The civilities of the great are never thrown away.