Most human beings live with other people all their lives. You grow up in a family, learn along with classmates in your school, and participate with your friends and neighbors in activities in your community. You are a citizen of a country, which is one of many that make up the world. People have always lived together and over the years have developed something called manners, or etiquette, that help make all this togetherness of so many individuals a little easier. While these rules of conduct have changed from century to century and vary from place to place, they are all based on the idea that a person should treat others like he or she would like to be treated. People who have good manners are said to be polite. Polite people are appreciated because they have respect for others.
Please and thank you are not magic words like abracadabra, which a magician says as he pulls a rabbit out of a hat. But they are special words because they make dealing with other people go more smoothly. People depend on one another for all sorts of things. We have to ask for help or permission all the time. Saying please shows that your request also comes with respect for the person you are asking. People are usually more willing to fulfill the requests of those who treat them with respect. Similarly, after someone gives you something or assists you, it is polite to say thank you to show your appreciation. Someone whose actions are appreciated will be more likely to help out or be generous again. So you can see how being polite can help people get things done. The words please and thank you make the world a more thoughtful and generous place.
