Conduct books are a genre of books that attempt to educate the reader on social norms. As a genre, they began in the mid-to-late Middle Ages, although antecedents such as The Maxims of Ptahhotep (ca. 2350 BC) are among the earliest surviving works. Conduct books remained popular through the 18th century, although they gradually declined with the advent of the novel.
Famous quotes containing the words conduct and/or book:
“There is no question what the roll of honor in America is. The roll of honor consists of the names of men who have squared their conduct by ideals of duty.”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
“This book was written in good faith, reader. It warns you from the outset that in it I have set myself no goal but a domestic and private one.... I am myself the matter of my book.”
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592)