These five fundamentals should set you in good stead. Good manners are extended to everybody, regardless
of whether you know them, on which side of town they live, or whether they tithe.
Be Humble: Others first, yourself last. Self-denial and deference to others ("After you") are
the cornerstone of good manners, acting selfish or uppity is not. This commandment is indisputably rooted in the Bible Belt
theology ("the first shall be last, and the last shall be first").
Be Courteous: Remember the Golden Rule. Go out of your way to be helpful and kind to everyone you
encounter.
Behave Yourself: Don't be uncouth, rude, brash, loud, coarse, or cause a commotion in public.
Only trashy types do such things.....and obviously this is because they weren't raised to know better.
Be Friendly: Put your friendliest foot forward, whether you've been properly introduced or don't know
the person from a hole in the ground. Be sociable and neighborly, just like you learned in Sunday School ("Thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thyself").
Be Modest: Never be highfalutin'. Practice modesty in all situations. "Why, shucks, I guess I
was in the right place at the right time" would work just fine upon learning that you had won the Pulitzer Prize. "Of course
I won it, I deserve to" would absolutely categorize you as too big for your britches.