Bowing, ceremonious, formal compliments, stiff civilities, will never be politeness; that must be easy, natural, unstudied; and what will give this but a mind benevolent and attentive to exert that amiable disposition in trifles to all you converse and live with?

Letters Written by the Late Earl of Chatham to His Nephew, Thomas Pitt, Esq (ed. 1804)