The quality of courtesy, understood in this deep way as the perception of the mystery of the other person, in our time, seems wholly superfluous. In life determined by science, technology, functionality, and material objects, proceeding directly to the matter at hand seems primary. No time for qualities that seem to have no functional purpose. Time cannot be squandered basking in the mystery of others or of ourselves. No time for such luxury.

Robert Sardello, The Power of Soul