Quote of the Day (Arthur Schopenhauer, on Why ‘It Is a Stupid Thing To Be Rude’)

“It is a wise thing to be polite; consequently, it is a stupid thing to be rude. To make enemies by unnecessary and willful incivility, is just as insane a proceeding as to set your house on fire. For politeness is like a counter—an avowedly false coin, with which it is foolish to be stingy.” — German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), The Wisdom of Life and Counsels and Maxims, translated by T. Bailey Saunders (1851)

Quote of the Day (Sonia Sotomayor, on Politeness)

“Don't mistake politeness for lack of strength."—Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, My Beloved World (2013)

The image accompanying this post showing Sonia Sotomayor was taken May 21, 2009, in an official White House photo by Pete Souza.