George Washington's Rules of Civility Traced to their Sources and Restored by Moncure D. Conway
Chapter iii. 13. Il est de la derniere ciuilité de parler tousiours
mieux de ceux auec qui nous avons à conuerser, que de vous mesmes: Et particulieremet quãd ce sont des personnes éleuées audessus de nous, auec qui il ne faut iamais contester en aucune maniere.
[Sidenote: Compare the last clause of this Maxim with Rule 40.]
It is the height of politeness always to speak better of those with whom we have to converse than of ourselves. And particularly when they are persons of a superior rank to ourselves, with whom we ought never to dispute in any fashion.
35th. Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.