Nearly 125 years ago (in 1890) Lewis Carroll provided eight rules for letter writers. While most of us do not write as many letters in a year as Carroll would have written in a week and while many of us never write a letter, this writing advice seems exceptionally good and surprisingly relevant in an age of MSNBC/FoxNews divisiveness and careless emailing. Take this tidbit for example:
4) When in doubt, err on the side of courtesy – ”If your friend makes a severe remark, either leave it unnoticed, or make your reply distinctly less severe: and if he makes a friendly remark, tending towards ‘making up’ the little difference that has arisen between you, let your reply be distinctly more friendly. If, in picking a quarrel, each party declined to go more than three-eighths of the way, and if, in making friends, each was ready to go five-eighths of the way—why, there would be more reconciliations than quarrels!
Wouldn’t that be nice? You can read the whole enchilada here.