Regency Culture and Society: Men and Manners (2)

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16 When you are engaged in conversation bring in no story but what introduces itself 17 A gentleman to dress like & groom is the world turned upside down 18 Much may be done in a short time Your barber bestows 140 strokes daily on your beard 19 Dress modestly but not fine unless the world knows you can afford it 20 People of fine feelings and delicate sentiments take more pains to be miserable than it would cost any rational man to be happy
21 Seldom go to an auction room fer there you will be tempted to buy what you do not want will sleep 22 Insure your life and you the better for it 23 Keep no more servants than you can employ 24 Never pay a tradesman's bill till you have cast it up 25 Pay all your bills at Christmas 26 If you owe money be regular in discharging the interest 27 Be not a collector of books without determining to read them 28 Instead of drinking three glasses of wine after dinner drink only two and if you want more drink a glass of ale The saving will bring back wine to its old price

This is the second post in our new Men and Manners, Maxims for life by a Gentleman (Men and Manners ; Or, Concentrated Wisdom. 4th Ed. Much Enlarged, 1809) series.  For the first post, go here:

Regency Culture and Society: Men and Manners – Regency Reader (regrom.com)

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3 Responses to Regency Culture and Society: Men and Manners (2)

  1. Agnes Nogradi says:
    February 12, 2023 at 10:38 am

    I read somewhere that the Regency is the beginning of the modern world. The maxim warning against buying unnecessary things in an auction room is an excellent example!
    On another note, what does it mean to “cast up” tradesmen’s bills? I’m intrigued because “gentlemen not paying tradesmen’s bills” is such a trope – but I didn’t think it would be an advice next to maxims about modesty and doing much with your time etc.
    Regularly paying the interest also brings Georgette Heyer books to mind…

    • Anne says:
      February 13, 2023 at 6:43 am

      I am going to do some research on the tradesmen’s bills question and do a separate post about it. Thanks for catching that!

  2. Pingback: Regency Words: Cast It Up – Regency Reader