What does decency or manners mean?

"The decent keeps silent out of decency, and the indecent thinks that I have silenced him," says Hz. Mevlana. Hundreds of years have passed and centuries more will pass. Mevlana's thoughts and words continue to shed light on humanity. While drawing attention to the principles of the path of decency, Mevlana also brought an explanation; "If you ask, O man, what is decency, know that decency is only to be patient and tolerant of the rudeness of every rudeness." 

What really is decency? Is it still valid in meaning? Or has it remained a word only in the pages of dictionaries, spiritual teachings, religious books? Decency, which we use as good manners, good morals, delicacy, beauty, came to our language from Arabic. We can also define it as respectful and moral behavior. 

Decency is also the origin of literature. The word literature has been used for many years to mean both good morals and linguistic sciences. Manners are one of the most important concepts that make our lives and us valuable and give us meaning as human beings. Being born as a human being is a chance offered to us. In order to make good use of this chance, we need to have good morals, right thinking and decency. 

When we look at it from another perspective, decency is behaving in accordance with the traditions of society, good morals, refinement and knowing one's limits. It is decency, being one inside and out, not crossing the limit. Everyone has a limit in the family, at work, at school, in the bazaar, in community life. There is a limit in all bilateral or multiple relationships. If each person knows his/her own limits and acts with that consciousness, distress, discord, strife, fighting and noise in the society will be minimized. On the contrary; there would be Peace, Love, Harmony, Harmony, Peace, Smiling faces. 

Decency is keeping the ego under control. A decent person has both a conscience and strives to use his/her mind correctly. When guiding, talking and consulting with others, he does not insult, but speaks and acts with compassion and kindness. He acts on his own level, not the other person's. It does not get out of control. He may be harmed by others, but he harms no one. He may be deceived, but he does not deceive. Decency is a characteristic that can be achieved in the time period from birth to death to the extent that a person can overcome his ego, restrain his anger, exercise his mind and keep his heart clean. There is no end to learning. There is also no end to goodness, beauty, and progress. Every level of knowledge, temperament and morality are steps on a ladder leading to higher levels. Each person takes his place on a step with his acquisitions. Let's listen to Mevlana once again. He says that knowledge and literature are the greatest assets of man. It does not age, rot or disappear. Knowing the value of such a trait is an indication that the value of humanity will always remain high.

With all that I have learned and thought about manners, in other words, decency, I can say that you should not do to others what you do not want others to do to you. Both good and evil, the rightness and wrongness of thoughts, words and deeds are transformative. Imagine yourself for a moment on a deserted mountainside. You are in a desolate and endless nature. Silence is all around you. Even the slightest whisper from you will echo and come back to you. This, in my opinion, is one of the greatest secrets of life.

I say, stay with respectful love.

Reference:

Masnavi