A name synonymous with etiquette and common courtesy, writer Emily Price Post (1872-1960) was born on this day in Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of a famed architect.

She once said: "Ideal conversation must be an exchange of thought, and not, as many of those who worry most about their shortcomings believe, an eloquent exhibition of wit or oratory."

Following her divorce from a wealthy banker, Post turned to writing to support herself. She wrote newspaper articles, travel books, and novels before her 1922 classic Etiquette became a best seller and the words "according to Emily Post" became a cultural phenomena.

Proving that correct behavior transcends generations, Etiquette continued to be revised and remained popular since its inception. By 2005, this pioneering practical guide to proper social behavior was in its 17th edition, written by Emily's great-granddaughter-in-law Peggy Post.

"A little praise is not only merest justice but is beyond the purse of no one," Miss Emily once said.

In 1946, Post founded The Emily Post Institute to provide a "civility barometer" for American society. With dedication to "societal concerns of the 21st century," her third generation family members continue to carry on her legacy.

"There is a big deposit of sympathy in the bank of love, but don’t draw out little sums every hour or so-so that by and by, when perhaps you need it badly, it is all drawn out and you yourself don’t know how or on what it was spent," she said.

Mind your manners.