“Courtesy costs nothing but pays a huge dividend” is an apt maxim which has been guiding mankind through all the stage of civilization. Courtesy is a term that embraces every walk of our life and that it concerns all us, whether boys, girls, men, women or old men and old women. Each of us is morally bound with one or other form of courtesy. We have to show courtesy, on our part, to our elders while they, on their part, too, maintain certain principle of courtesy to be extended to their younger ones. That is why the cult of courtesy is governed by the principle of “give and take”.

There are numerous instance of showing courtesy to others-very simple. It is not a difficult task. For example you are traveling in a bus which is packed up. You have got a seat but a pregnant lady is standing. It is the principle of courtesy that you should offer her your seat, no matter whether she accepts your invitation or not.

Another common form of courtesy (which is generally ignored by us) is that of ‘thanking’ and saying ‘please’. Some one offer you a cigarette; before you accept it you must say”thankyou”; even if you are not a smoker and refuse the offer, say” thank you, but I don’t smoke.” Similarly, people fact, costs nothing. Note the vast difference between the two examples:-

It is a principle of courtesy that when you meet an elder, you must first bow to him and say ‘good morning sir’. If you are sitting and one of teachers happens to came near you, it is the call of courtesy that you should immediately stand up in reverence. While attending dinner or lunch you must not start eating unless you’re fellow guests do so. Say 'sorry' if you may some mistake even it is little one such as you cough at the time of you speak.

It is a matter of great pity as well as shame that in our country people pay for little attention to the demand of courtesy. We see, in our school and colleges, students behaving with their teachers in uncourteous manner. Senior citizens are also treated in the same manner. Courtesy, it must be remembered, makes a man a real human being fit to live in a civilized society.