Social etiquette is more than just a set of polite behaviors—it embodies the values, hierarchies, and unspoken rules that define a culture. In many ancient civilizations, these customs were sacred, with breaches leading to humiliation or even severe punishment. While many of these etiquette practices have faded with time, their echoes can still be felt today, subtly influencing modern social norms and cultural behaviors.

Exploring these ancient customs offers us a window into the complexities of human interaction and the profound importance once placed on seemingly small actions. Here are ten fascinating social etiquette rules from ancient civilizations that time has forgotten.

Related: 10 Social Conventions You Might Be Taking for Granted

10 Don’t Look Directly at the Emperor (Ancient Rome)

In ancient Rome, the emperor was not just a political leader but was often considered a living deity embodying the state’s power and divine favor. Citizens and even nobles were expected to show the utmost respect in his presence, which included avoiding direct eye contact. Looking directly at the emperor was more than impolite—it was a symbolic affront to his elevated status, akin to challenging his authority or questioning his supremacy.

This etiquette was strictly enforced during public appearances, ceremonies, and court proceedings. When citizens approached the emperor to plead cases or seek favors, they would do so with bowed heads and eyes cast downward, demonstrating submission and respect. Even high-ranking officials and soldiers adhered to this practice, acknowledging the vast gulf between the ruler and the ruled.

Failure to observe this rule could result in social ostracism or severe consequences, underscoring the rigid social structures of ancient Rome. The practice reinforced the social hierarchy and maintained the emperor’s near-divine status in the eyes of the people.^[1]

9 The Two-Finger Salute for Greetings (Medieval Europe)

In medieval Europe, religion permeated every aspect of life, including greetings. The two-finger salute, widely used across the continent, was a symbol of religious devotion. By raising two fingers—the index and middle fingers—individuals affirmed their belief in the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This simple gesture served as both a greeting and a silent affirmation of one’s orthodox beliefs.

During times of religious strife, such as the Crusades or the Inquisition, failing to use this gesture appropriately could lead to suspicion, ostracization, or even accusations of heresy. The two-finger salute was not just a polite custom but a crucial tool for social survival in an era when religious conformity was enforced by severe penalties.

Merchants and travelers also used the salute to indicate their faith and good intentions when entering new towns or engaging in trade. It facilitated trust among strangers in a fragmented landscape of feudal territories and varying local customs.^[2]

8 Never Eat with Your Left Hand (Ancient India)

In ancient India, the distinction between the left and right hand was deeply embedded in social norms and religious practices. The left hand was reserved for tasks considered unclean, such as personal hygiene. Meals were more than just eating—they were communal rituals that reinforced social bonds and religious observances. Using the right hand to eat honored the sanctity of the food and the occasion, reflecting broader concepts of purity central to Hinduism.

Using the left hand during meals was considered impure and disrespectful, not only to the food but also to fellow diners and the divine. This rule extended beyond the home into social and religious gatherings, where adherence to this etiquette was a sign of respect to hosts and guests alike.

Even today, in many parts of South Asia and the Middle East, this custom persists, highlighting the lasting impact of ancient practices on modern cultural norms.^[3]

7 Cover Your Head Indoors (Ottoman Empire)

In the Ottoman Empire, social etiquette required men to keep their heads covered indoors, especially in places of religious or social importance like mosques or private homes. This custom was rooted in notions of humility before God and respect within the social hierarchy. The head covering, often a fez or turban, was a symbol of one’s faith and societal status.

Removing one’s head covering in inappropriate contexts was more than a breach of etiquette; it was a potential act of defiance or disrespect. The strict enforcement of this custom reflected the empire’s emphasis on maintaining social cohesion and visual markers of identity.

The practice extended beyond religious settings to formal meetings and social gatherings, reinforcing the importance of modesty and respect in daily interactions. While the Ottoman Empire no longer exists, the legacy of head-covering customs continues to influence cultural practices in the region.^[4]

6 Bow Before Speaking (Feudal Japan)

In feudal Japan, social interactions were governed by strict codes reflecting one’s status and role. Central to these interactions was the act of bowing, or “ojigi,” which conveyed respect, gratitude, apology, and other sentiments without words. When addressing a superior, especially a daimyo (feudal lord), one was expected to bow deeply before speaking.

Failing to perform the proper bow was a grave breach of etiquette, implying arrogance or disrespect. For the samurai class, who lived by the strict code of Bushido, adherence to proper bowing was a matter of honor and discipline. Neglecting this could lead to serious consequences, including loss of status or even duels.

Bowing before speaking maintained the social hierarchy and reinforced mutual respect, essential components of Japanese society at the time. The practice highlighted the importance placed on non-verbal communication and the subtle nuances of social interaction.^[5]

5 Never Step on the Threshold (Ancient Egypt)

In ancient Egypt, the threshold of a home was more than just a physical boundary—it was a spiritual one. Stepping directly on the threshold when entering someone’s house was considered disrespectful to both the host and the protective deities believed to guard the home. Egyptians believed that the gods watched over families from the entrance, and stepping on the threshold could anger these protective spirits.

Guests were expected to step over the threshold, acknowledging the sacredness of the entrance and showing respect for the household’s divine guardians. This practice emphasized the importance Egyptians placed on hospitality, spirituality, and the sanctity of the home.

Such customs reinforced social bonds and religious beliefs, integrating everyday actions with spiritual significance. While the specific practice may have faded, it reflects the profound connection between daily life and the divine in ancient Egyptian culture. ^[6]

4 Silence Is Golden (Imperial China)

In Imperial China, Confucian principles shaped societal norms, including etiquette surrounding speech. One of the most important virtues was self-restraint, and in the presence of elders or superiors, it was expected to remain silent unless spoken to. Speaking out of turn or at length was considered a sign of arrogance and disrespect.

Silence maintained harmony by acknowledging the proper social order and showing deference to those of higher status. This etiquette was especially important in familial settings and official courts, where hierarchy was strictly observed.

Failure to adhere to this rule could lead to loss of face, a concept deeply ingrained in Chinese culture that pertains to one’s honor and reputation. The emphasis on measured speech and respect contributed to social cohesion and reflected the value placed on harmony and order.^[7]

3 Don’t Show the Sole of Your Foot (Ancient Mesopotamia)

In ancient Mesopotamia, the feet were considered the dirtiest part of the body due to constant contact with the ground. Showing someone the sole of your foot, even unintentionally, was seen as a grave insult. The sole was associated with filth both physically and symbolically, and displaying it to someone was akin to calling them unclean.

This etiquette influenced how people sat and interacted, ensuring that the soles of their feet were not exposed to others. It extended to formal settings, where individuals were mindful of their posture to avoid offending others.

The practice underscores the importance placed on cleanliness and respect in social interactions. Variations of this custom persist in some cultures today, highlighting the lasting impact of ancient social norms.^[8]

2 The Left Seat for Guests of Honor (Ancient Greece)

In ancient Greece, seating arrangements at social gatherings were significant, particularly during symposiums or banquets. The seat to the left of the host was reserved for the guest of honor, considered the most prestigious position. This placement symbolized the host’s trust and affection, as the left side was associated with the heart.

Hosts carefully arranged their guests to ensure everyone was seated according to their status, reflecting the importance of hospitality and social order. Misplacing someone in the hierarchy could lead to social tension or offense.

This etiquette emphasized the Greek values of xenia (hospitality) and respect for social hierarchies. Proper seating was a tangible expression of these virtues, reinforcing relationships and societal norms.^[9]

1 Cover Your Mouth When Laughing (Victorian England)

In Victorian England, etiquette rules were enforced rigidly, especially regarding women’s behavior. Women were expected to cover their mouths while laughing or smiling broadly. Modesty was a prized virtue, and excessive displays of emotion were considered unladylike and could damage a woman’s reputation.

This small gesture allowed women to demonstrate decorum and self-restraint, key virtues in Victorian society. It reflected the era’s strict ideas about femininity and proper conduct, where maintaining an air of modesty and reserve was paramount.

While men had more leeway in their expressions, women were held to stringent standards that dictated their behavior in public and private spheres. The practice highlights the gender norms and social expectations of the time.^[10]

Since last year’s election, there has been something of a shift in respectability in the comments here. Consequently I thought it would be a good idea to put together a brief list explaining the rules for commenters (regulars and guests) and a few other pointers to help us all get back on track.

10 Banned Words

We are fairly liberal in allowing the use of profanity in comments but we never allow it when those words are used against a person. Due to popular demand we do not restrict any profanity, but if profanity is used against another commenter the comment will be deleted.

Other than that, we also auto-moderate certain words that are frequently seen in spammer’s comments.

9 Nickname Hijacking

If you comment using the nickname of another person, we will ban you immediately from commenting. This is not allowed as it causes confusion and tarnishes the reputation of the person you are mimicking. Attempting to bypass this (and any other commenting rule for that matter) will result in a full ban from the site, not just commenting.

8 Multiple Personalities

We don’t allow people to post under multiple nicknames. Like item 9, this causes confusion and is deceitful. Behind the scenes our moderators are able to see the IP address of each commenter so it is very easy for us to see when this is happening.

7 Attacking The Person

You should never personally attack another commenter. It is absolutely fine to attack their opinions but it is not fine to call that person names. First of all this hurts you because ad hominem attacks are a sign that you are unable to prove your point, and secondly it prevents people from feeling that they can safely speak their mind on a topic. If we want good open debate and friendly comments, name calling must not occur. Calling someone “sexist” for example, doesn’t hurt that person, it doesn’t prove your point, it just makes it appear that you can’t support your own opinions and need to resort to childish tactics.

6 Presume Innocence

When you read another person’s comment, you should presume they have good will and good intentions. If you automatically presume a person has ill-intent you will be immediately on the attack and this spoils the environment for everyone. It is wise to presume that the person you are debating is a regular person just like you and when he isn’t chatting and reading, he is going to work, visiting his family, reading books, watching TV, etc. In other words, you are both the same—why presume ill intent of the other person if you don’t have ill-intent yourself?

5 Words Matter

It is very important to use the right words when you are arguing with someone. When we use words that have different meanings to different people, it is not possible to have a valid discussion. For example, the words “murder” and “kill”. Using the word “murder” when you are actually describing “killing” prevents a valid debate from occurring because the two words mean entirely different things.

Murder is the illegal taking of another man’s life. Killing is the act of taking another man’s life. In a just war, we kill our enemies. The death penalty, by definition, is killing a man – not murdering him because the law permits it. So killing a man in order to steal his goods is murder, but killing a man in self-defense is not.

If you need to, debate the meanings of the words before using those words in your arguments. This is the logical and rational approach to a discussion. And who knows, maybe you’ll find that you actually agree with each other!

4 Don’t Proselytize

In discussions around religion or politics you will never convert someone on a commenting thread. Your goal should be to make your point fairly and politely. It should be understood first and foremost that if you are having a discussion of another faith or a different political opinion, you are not going to agree. The best you can hope for is to develop a deeper understanding of your fellow man and, hopefully, improve your knowledge on various subjects. This is useful even if you only come to learn why that person holds that view. And remember item 6: presume the person holds their view because of their earnest attempts to understand the world around them – not because they are born with an inherently evil desire to subvert the masses!

3 Common Language

Please remember that we are an English language website and all comments should be made in English. Using foreign languages or codes is tantamount to whispering . . . it is rude. You can, of course, refer to quotes in foreign languages or use common foreign phrases that are part of English (such as et cetera) but that should be the extent of it.

2 First Post

We don’t see this as much these days as we did in the past, but please don’t post silly comments that do not contribute in any way to the discussion. The worst of these are “first post!” type comments but they come in all shapes and sizes.

1 Breaches Of Good Commenting Etiquette

All registered users have the ability to flag a comment for moderator’s attention. You should definitely make use of this if you see comments that breach these rules. Self-moderation is far and away the best approach to take on a site. It should also be noted that if enough people flag a comment it is automatically hidden until a moderator approves it. You guys have the power so don’t be afraid to use it.

For centuries, board games have been a way for people to pass the time, compete, and build memorable moments in their lifetimes. From throwing dice to moving tokens, the simple moves in board games usually wash our memories in nostalgia from just the mention of them. We all have our favorites, games that we’ve played for years. So often, we haven’t looked at the instructions in eons…and that may have been a mistake.

Most board gamers know how to set up their favorite games, get the game going, settle rule disputes, and know the winning conditions. However, many board games are taught to people through verbal telling of the rules, as the rule book tends to get lost in the constant packing and unpacking of the game. That is a shame, as most rule books would tell you how to speed up the game, make it more fun, or let you know that you’ve been downright doing something wrong all these years. So, with that in mind, we’ll explore 10 board game rules you probably didn’t know.

Related: Top 10 Best Board Games Of All Time

10 Free Parking Is Really Free Parking

Monopoly has been a family-favorite staple in living rooms for over a century. It is the source of countless hours of fun and more than its fair share of anguish. Most people agree this classic board game is one that you must dedicate time to playing in one session. Monopoly clocks in at over three hours for game play. But the extra long time may be your fault.

Ask most people about the Free Parking space, and they’ll tell you it’s a favorite spot to land, usually netting money from taxes collected, jail fees, and other sources of funding. But the Free Parking space is just that, a free space. According to “The Rules of Monopoly,” Free Parking is nothing more than a worry-free space to land on. All that extra money being paid out means extra chances to play when landing on a property, which logs in added time in the game. Leave the money off Free Parking, and you can watch your game time go down to about 60-90 minutes.^[1]

9 You Only Have To Draw One Card in Uno

Draw 2, Draw 4, Skip, and Reverse! Most people enjoy dropping those consequence cards on their fellow players in Uno. But there’s no worse feeling than being close to Uno as the player before you drops a card you can’t match. The possibility of drawing up to a substantial number always looms when you get close to the end, causing some games to go on for hours.

But hold your horses! Thanks to a post from Uno’s Facebook, when a player does not have a matching color or number in hand, they only have to draw one card. They don’t have to draw until they match. Most house rule players have omitted this time-saving rule, but playing with the official rules can significantly cut your game time.^[2]

8 You Can Be Anywhere To Win Clue

You figured it out! You know Professor Plum is the killer. He used the wrench. He did it in the kitchen. Only problem: your game piece is in the Billiard room, and Col. Mustard is blocking the closest door. It will take many rolls of the dice to cross the game board and make it over there so you can confidently share your accusation…or is it?

“The rules of Clue” state that you have to be in the room you are making the suggestion in when collecting clues. However, to make your Final Accusation, you can be in ANY room. So instead of having to roll your way across the board, hop into the closest room, point the finger, and let justice prevail…as long as you’re correct.^[3]

7 You Can Fire Multiple Times in Battleship

B4, Miss. C6. Hit! There’s nothing more fun than trying to use strategy and luck to sink your opponent’s naval fleet in the classic board game Battleship. Turn after turn of nailing down exactly where those ships are hiding and that feeling of satisfaction when you find your opponent’s hard-to-find battleship. But the one shot per turn firing can leave the pace dragging.

Milton Bradley realized this and included the rules from the original 1937 version of the game called Salvo. In the Salvo version, a player fired one time for each remailing ship their opponent had. So, on your turn, a player could fire 5 times. Sink an enemy ship? Now you’re shooting 4 times. This multi-round rule allows for quicker gameplay and more nail-biting fun when you get down to one shot per turn.^[4]

6 In the Game of LIFE, You Can Steal From Retirees

Racing down the highway of life, collecting pegs to extend your family, and striving to retire at Millionaire Estates, one spin of the wheel at a time. The Game of LIFE is treasured for its ease of learning but dreaded for its hours of replay. It can be fun when you get a session of six players, but resources tend to be slim.

There are 25 LIFE tokens in the box, giving you end-game rewards to try to put you over the top. Once all 25 tokens are gone, the LIFE token space usually is only a free space, right? According to “The Rules for The Game of LIFE,” if a player has retired to Millionaire Estates and there are no more LIFE tokens available, their LIFE tokens are now up for grabs. Not a fan of having your LIFE tokens on the chopping block? Retire to the quieter Countryside Acres for the trade-off of not being in the running for the other players awaiting Life Tokens.^[5]

5 You Can Use a Yahtzee Anywhere in Yahtzee

For over 60 years, friends, family, and frenemies have gathered around five dice to try to outscore everyone to become the winner of Yahtzee. Using roll outcomes like poker hands, people roll the dice to score the most points. What makes Yahtzee dangerous is how many times you can use a roll outcome. Let’s say on one turn you end up with 5-5-5-5-1. Do you use that outcome to fill out the 5s category? Or maybe four of a kind? Once you take the points on one category, you’re locked out of using it again…except for one outcome.

When you roll a Yahtzee, you get 50 points and fill in one of the most challenging lines on your scorecard. But what happens if you get another Yahtzee? Well, according to “The rules of Yahtzee,” you get an additional 100 points, but you can place it anywhere, as long as the corresponding numbers category has already been filled. Remember the roll from before? Let’s say you put it in the 5s category. Next turn, you roll all 5s, but you already had a Yahtzee earlier. You can now use that Yahtzee to fill in any other category for the points. You can even use it to fill in the other number categories, although it gives you zero points for that number because none of the numbers match. ^[6]

4 You Can TWERK in Scrabble

It is not advised you bust out your best dance moves while playing this classic crossword builder game, but TWERKING is now a legal Scrabble word.

When most players take on opponents in Scrabble, they use a trusted source for word verification—the dictionary. The thick book of definitions is the final word of truth for verification. Nope, not really! While the dictionary is a fantastic tool, the average person doesn’t update their reference books. As a result, a dictionary can be sitting on a shelf for years before being used, not accounting for changes in our language.

Well, the good people at Scrabble fixed this issue with the official Scrabble players dictionary. This online tool is updated annually, adding hundreds of words at a time as our vocabulary grows. Got a BIT in your hand, and someone played COIN? Add those tiles for a digital currency that can be a pretty high-scoring word. Want to play EW or OK? Go for it! Scrabble’s new edition gives you more ways to win. So now you finally get your chance to TWERK and make it count.^[7]

3 Not Everyone Wins in Jenga

It’s down to the wire. Every piece you touch is wobbly, precariously sitting on a skeleton of a frame, and you have to make a move. You examine and recognize it. A piece of wood that could be your salvation. You tap it. It looks like it will move. You commit. You pull the piece in one smooth motion and breathe a sigh of relief, only to watch tens of wooden blocks come crashing down to the delight of everyone else in the room as they exclaim, “Jenga!”

The block stacking party game has been a favorite among people who want to determine how dexterous and nimble they are. It’s a terrific game for groups, as several people can huddle around the tower and take turns until the tower falls. Many usually celebrate when the tower falls for all the players, but that celebration may want to be tapered down to only one person.

According to the official rules of Jenga, the winner of the game is the last person to successfully pull a Jenga block from the tower and stack it at the top, not the group. So, even though it’s a multiplayer game and multiple people didn’t knock over the tower, there is only one true winner of a Jenga game.^[8]

2 Sometimes It Pays To Botch the Surgery in Operation

The classic board game of surgical removal of a patient who is awake the whole time is a test of reflexes and nerves. Use the tweezers to pull out the part indicated on the card and don’t touch the sides, else you’ll turn the patient’s nose red and lose your chance of making money.

In the game of Operation, you are dealt out a specialty card before the game. This card makes you a Specialist for a certain surgery. For a short while, you may be the world’s foremost expert in Charlie Horse extraction. The benefit of the Specialist card is that when another player fails at a surgery, you are a Specialist. You then get to undertake the surgery and get paid a premium.

There may come a time when you draw an operation you are a specialist in. “The rules of Operation” do not state you only get one chance. They state once a doctor operates and fails, the specialist is brought in. This means that you could purposely fail the operation the first time, only to immediately get a second chance—at a higher rate of pay. In real life, this would lead to a malpractice case, but on a board game, it’s a pretty savvy way to make a quick payday.^[9]

1 The Last Can Be First in Scattergories

Scattergories is a fast-paced word game that tests your thinking skills and creativity. Only 60 seconds to fill in categories with the letter determined from a roll of the die.

Let’s say you’re in the middle of a game. The die has been rolled. The letter is K, and you’re stuck on your first Scattergory: “Fictional Famous People.” Sure, you know many people with last names starting with K, but you’re blanking on a first name. What to do?

Don’t panic. One of the most forgotten tools of Scattergories is using the comma. According to the official rules of Scattergories, you can use the comma to list the last name of a person first. So instead of Captain James T. Kirk getting you no points, Kirk, James would get you a point in the category.^[10]

Etiquette used to be the glue that held society together. It enabled people to get on with friends and neighbors without causing offense or harm. Sadly, these days it has mostly gone by the wayside. This list is of 10 of the best rules of etiquette that have now vanished. Perhaps it will inspire some to revive them!

I have made this item 10 because it is more a case of correct dress rather than manners. First off, if your wedding is before 6 in the evening, you should not wear a tuxedo (black tie) or tails (white tie). You should either wear a formal suit or – if you want to be very proper – a morning suit. There is an excellent article here that will explain the rules of wedding dress for men. It is customary for the groom to give a tie to each of the men in the wedding party. If you are wearing a morning suit or a formal suit, give your wedding party ties that are similar but do not match. You want the party to look similar – but not like members of a choir. The photograph above shows you how this can be done to very good effect. It is, of course, Prince Henry and Prince William at their father’s wedding. If you are getting married after 6pm, you can wear a tuxedo or tails as these are evening clothes. Here is a guide for wearing tails.

In days gone by, a gentleman would always open doors for ladies. Whether it be the lady they were driving, or a stranger entering a building, it was always the done thing. This has now almost entirely vanished – and it is not entirely the fault of the men. I have seen women sneer at men for opening a door for them. They seem to be confusing manners with chauvinism. My advice in this case is to smile at the sneering lady and open the door anyway.

In days gone by, whenever a person received a gift, they would write a thank-you as soon as possible. This rule was true even if the giver was a relative. Parents would sit children down after a birthday or Christmas and coach them in their first thank-you notes. It is a shame that gift giving has now become a virtual obligation and the idea of a thank-you note would be scoffed at. If you ignore every other item on this list, at least try to teach your children to write thank you notes – they will have a greater appreciation of gifts they receive.

When people had a wedding or a special occasion party in the past, they would never have considered having a “gift registry”. To do so would be tantamount to asking people for a gift – which is extremely rude even today. It would also have been considered rude to say something like “no gifts” as it implies that gifts are an expected obligation. I can honestly say that I have never received a wedding invitation that didn’t also invite me to purchase a gift at my friend’s favorite shop. People seem to think it is okay as long as they include a few “cheap” gifts to balance out the extraordinary number of incredibly expensive gifts that I can’t even afford for myself! I have seen wedding registries that contain gifts valued in the thousands of dollars. Wedding invitations did not mention gifts – they did not ask for them and they did not include such silly things as “no gifts!” or worse still “donations to [insert charity no one cares about except you] in lieu of gifts”

We seem to have completely lost the concept of correct timing when it comes to parties these days. People leave when they are bored, when they want to go to another party, when they are too drunk, when they are not drunk enough, the excuses are endless. First of all, a party normally has a guest of honor – this is usually the oldest woman present. It was considered extremely rude in the past to leave a party before the guest of honor – and once the guest of honor left, it was a signal to all that they should begin their own preparations to leave. The loss of this etiquette rule is because we have largely thrown away the concept of a guest of honor.

This seemed a fitting item to follow the previous: in the olden days it was rude to arrive late. There was no such thing as being “fashionably late”. Lateness was rudeness – always. In most houses, if you were invited to dinner and turned up 15 minutes late, you would end up eating alone in the kitchen surrounded by the household staff, only to be allowed to join the party when the polite guests (who arrived on time) had finished and were retiring for the evening’s entertainment.

I could write a whole list on the lost etiquette of dinner – but I shall simply abridge it for this list. First of all, people used to dress for dinner – and they would all eat together at the table. Dressing for dinner emphasized the importance of family and healthy food. It is no wonder that now that we scoff food down in front of TV and all eat at different times, that we are becoming fatter as a race. This is one area where I try particularly hard to follow the rules. I don’t dress for dinner, but I sit with my family every night at the dinner table. I strongly recommend it as a good way to build up a good family spirit.

I had to add this item because there is a brilliant and funny quote relating to it. Let’s start with the quote (it is from “Everyday Manners” by Emily Post):

[P]arents must never disagree before the children. It simply can’t be! Nor can there be an appeal to one parent against the other by a child.
“Father told me to jump down the well!”
“Then you must do it, dear,” is the mother’s only possible comment. When the child has “jumped down the well,” she may pull him out promptly, and she may in private tell her husband what she thinks about his issuing such orders and stand her own ground against them; but so long as parents are living under the same roof, that roof must shelter unity of opinion, so far as any witnesses are concerned.

That is how a strong a rule it was! I bet you won’t find any parents today who agree strongly with this one.

This is probably the rule most ignored these days: in the old days, people walking on the street would dress discreetly, talk discreetly, and never do anything which would draw attention to themselves. It was forbidden to mention names of friends as it is indiscreet. The gentleman always walked on the road side of the sidewalk – to protect the lady or ladies from passing traffic (which the two fakes in the photo above appear not to know). People would not look or talk to strangers passing and would never call out to a friend on the other side of the street.

This is another large topic. Let’s give a quick rundown: A gentleman would have never:

1. Borrowed money from a lady
2. Borrowed money from a man without security and the intention to pay it back as quickly as possible
3. Discussed money
4. Discussed his possessions or their cost
5. Name dropped: “When I was dining with Mr Rich…”, “I am great friends with Miss Gottabuck”

On the other hand, he would have assumed the debts of a deceased family member as it was a debt of honor. How far we have come! Money and the pursuit of wealth has become so obvious these days that a whole new term has been coined because of it: conspicuous consumption. There was once a day that we did not try to keep up with the Joneses – because we didn’t know what the Joneses had and no one knew what we had.

Sometimes, changing the world means breaking the rules. There have been key moments in history defined by defiant acts, and the results often bring change unlike any that came before.

The people who instigate this kind of global change are frequently persecuted and vilified, but this often encourages them to fight harder.

Whether it was to bring change for one or for all, these ten people broke the rules to make the world a better place, and they’re presented in no particular order.

10 Archaeological Relics From The Life Of Jesus Christ

10 Galileo Di Vincenzo Bonaiuti De’ Galilei

While the history of scientific observation has many prominent figures, few hold the candle to Galileo. The Italian astronomer, engineer, and physicist followed in the footsteps of Copernicus to find better ways of understanding the universe, and this ultimately resulted in the violation of several rules.

As a champion of Copernican heliocentrism, which was the theory that the Earth rotated daily as it revolved around the Sun, he came into conflict with the Catholic Church by declaring Copernicus’ theories proved that the Bible contained errors. The Church was largely responsible for the furtherance of academic study at the time, and his claims of Biblical errors were in opposition to the Catholic view. It should be noted, however, that the Church did not reject Copernicus or heliocentrism at the time but they did believe that Galileo was presenting his theories without sufficient proofs.

Galileo was tried by the Roman Inquisition in 1633 and found “vehemently suspect of heresy” and was forced to recant his views. He spent the remainder of his life under house arrest. Still, his work influenced others, leading to the further development of observational astronomy, modern physics, and the scientific method. Since his death, Galileo has become known as the father of modern science.

9 Gaius Julius Caesar

Looking back into Roman antiquity, there’s no bigger rule breaker than Gaius Julius Caesar. When Caesar’s Governorship came to an end, he was summoned back to Rome by the Senate. He was also ordered to disband his army and not bring his forces across the Rubicon River.

When he came to the Rubicon on January 10, 49 BC, he stopped for a moment and came to a decision. He crossed the Rubicon with his entire force, breaking a very sturdy Roman rule that prohibited any Roman army from crossing that line into the country.

When he crossed, he said, “Alea iacta est” (The die has been cast), and he wasn’t kidding. His action precipitated the Roman Civil War, which pitted an incredibly popular Roman General against the Senate, who wasn’t as beloved by the people as Caesar.

Breaking that rule resulted in a war, which ultimately saw Caesar declared Dictator for Life. When he was killed (by the Senate), his adopted heir took his place and brought the Roman Republic down. Gaius Octavius (Augustus Caesar) then built the Roman Empire, which stood, in one form or another, for more than 1,400 years.

8 Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks was active in the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s, but she didn’t come to truly break the rules until December 1, 1955. On that day, Mrs. Parks was ordered to leave her seat on the bus to make room for a white man by James F. Blake. He insisted she move to the back of the bus’ “colored” section.

Parks refused and was arrested for civil disobedience. Parks wasn’t the first person to find themselves in a similar situation. Still, she stood out to the National Association of Colored People (NAACP). The organization rallied behind Parks’ challenge to her arrest, which led to the Montgomery bus boycott.

The 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system put intense pressure on the city, and the event helped galvanize the people into further action. In 1956, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Browder vs. Gale, finally putting an end to legal segregation on Alabama’s public transportation system. (LINK 2)

The Civil Rights movement in the United States grew from Parks’ example and the SCOTUS decision. She helped stir the people to further action, resulting in greater progress that finally saw an end to legal segregation in the United States by 1968.

7 Nelson Mandela

South Africa utilized a legal system of institutionalized racial segregation called Apartheid, beginning in 1948. The system was put in place to guarantee the nation’s politics, social structures, and economy all favored the minority white population.

Apartheid was widely despised by the majority black population, but it was challenging to overcome. Many people tried to resist, but they found themselves locked up for their efforts more often than not. Nelson Mandela spoke out against Apartheid from its inception, and he challenged it vocally.

Between 1948 and 1956, Mandela was arrested and jailed on charges ranging from sedition to treason. He joined the South African Communist Party and committed to nonviolent forms of protest. Then, in 1962, he led a sabotage campaign against the government, resulting in his imprisonment for conspiring to overthrow the state.

Mandela continued to break the rules by challenging the legally established doctrine of Apartheid, even after he was imprisoned for life. Finally, he was released in 1990, and his continued efforts helped end Apartheid and establish a new nation in South Africa. In 1994, he won the office of the 1st President of South Africa.

6 Mohandas Gandhi

Mohandas Gandhi studied to become an attorney in London before returning to his native India to practice. This proved difficult, so he moved to South Africa, where he remained for 21 years, building his practice and family. By the age of 45, he returned to India, where he organized peasants, farmers, and laborers to protest against discrimination.

Gandhi became the leader of the Indian National Congress in 1921, launching campaigns to ease poverty and expand civil rights. The following year, he was arrested for civil disobedience and sedition when a protest he organized turned violent. Twenty-two people were killed, deeply affecting Gandhi and his way of thinking.

After serving five of six years in prison, he returned to his role advocating peaceful protest. His adherence to nonviolence helped inspire a massive anti-colonial movement. In 1930, he led the Dandi Salt March, marching 250 miles (400 km) to speak out against the unfair tax.

Decades of nonviolent protest finally saw British rule of India come to an end. Throughout his life, Gandhi broke numerous rules that saw him imprisoned. Still, he continued despite the hardship and helped free a nation from colonial rule without shedding a drop of blood.

5 Martin Luther

Few religious leaders have had as divisive an impact on history as Martin Luther. The Augustinian monk became a priest in 1507, though he never accepted all of the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. He was particularly disapproving of indulgences, which offered a way for an adherent to reduce the temporal punishment for their sins (in part, in partial indulgences; and in full, in plenary indulgences)

More specifically, a donation to the Church along with prayers resulting in the granting of an indulgence was distasteful to Luther, so he did something about it. In 1517, Luther nailed up his Ninety-five Theses to the door of the Wittenburg Church. The Theses were meant to initiate an academic discussion on the practice of indulgences, but it went way beyond that.

Luther was called to renounce his writings by Pope Leo X in 1520, but he refused. He did so again when the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V demanded it at the Diet of Worms in 1521, resulting in his excommunication. He was declared an outlaw by the Emperor.

From there, Luther became a seminal figure in the Reformation, which ultimately resulted in a schism. This led to the development of Lutheranism and every other Protestant religion that followed.

4 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

If the Civil Rights movement in the United States had a face, it would belong to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Baptist minister from Atlanta, Georgia, stood out among his peers as a national leader who participated and led marches for a number of civil rights issues prevalent in the United States through the 1950s and ‘60s.

King was the leader of the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott that helped bring an end to legal segregation in Alabama’s transit system. He followed this by becoming the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which led to further movements in Georgia before he was elevated to national visibility via his 1963 March on Washington.

The following year, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. King spent his adult life fighting for the rights of people oppressed because of the color of their skin. His work helped change the world by bringing an end to legalized segregation.

Throughout his life, King was arrested 29 times for breaking various rules. His arrests came from nonviolent protests, prayer vigils, and so-called “civil disobedience” laws that saw him spend his fair share of time behind bars.

3 Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony was committed to social equality throughout her entire life. Most people think of her as one of the initial leaders of the suffrage movement, but her work towards equality began with a different cause. Anthony started collecting anti-slavery petitions at the age of 17, nearly 30 years before slavery was finally ended in the United States.

In 1856, she became the New York state agent for the American Anti-Slavery Society. She collected hundreds of thousands of signatures in support of the abolitionist movement. She founded the Women’s Loyal National League and initiated the American Equal Rights Association the year after slavery came to an end.

Her work in the Suffrage movement intensified throughout the 1860s, but it wasn’t until 1872 that she broke a rather important rule. Anthony voted in Rochester, New York, and was subsequently convinced in a widely publicized trial. Anthony steadfastly refused to pay the fine for her criminal activity but faced no further punitive action.

Anthony’s lifelong commitment to activism pushed for crucial social change. Fourteen years after she died, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed in 1920, giving women the right to vote. It is colloquially known as the “Susan B. Anthony Amendment.”

2 Leonardo Da Vinci

Nearly everything Leonardo da Vinci did was ahead of his time. His works include drawings for submarines, tanks, and airplanes long before any were finally created. His illustrations and paintings are some of the world’s greatest treasures. One aspect of his work that broke the rules and helped change the world was his work in medicine.

Few people think of da Vinci in terms of his impact on medicine, but he was instrumental in helping humanity understand the human body. Da Vinci was fascinated by anatomy and sought to learn as much as he could about it. He collected various body parts and dissected at least 30 corpses while engaged in his study.

Using cadavers for that sort of research wasn’t allowed at the time, resulting in an accusation of “unseemly conduct” and possibly witchcraft upon his return to Rome, which put an end to his anatomical studies. His work remained unpublished and wasn’t discovered for centuries.

Da Vinci’s anatomical studies confirmed that the heart was the center of the blood system (instead of the liver). His work helped further influence 19th and 20th-century medical practices. His anatomical illustrations were so accurate that they helped guide a cadaver dissection 500 years after completing them.

1 Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem around 4 BC to the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, who raised Him in the Galilean town of Nazareth. While most of the details of His early life remain a mystery, it is believed that He grew up to follow in His father’s footsteps, working as a carpenter and tradesman.

Despite this, He came to declare himself the Messiah, at first in the north of Judea, in Galilee. He was largely accepted there, and He then took it to Jerusalem, where He was referred to by some as “rabbi.”

Ultimately, it wasn’t the fact that Christ preached His ministry that broke the rules; it was the nature of what He spoke about and the fact that He declared Himself God (“Before Abraham was made, I Am.” St John 8:58). Jesus’ teachings centered around rejecting the Talmudic laws of the Pharisees and fulfilling the original Jewish faith as clarified by Him and the apostles He taught (the first Bishops and Popes). Still, many saw His words as subversive and against the doctrinal teachings of the Talmud and the extreme social regulations of pharisaical Judaism, dominant at the time.

He ran afoul of the priests and rabbis in Jerusalem and was vilified. Eventually, He was betrayed, captured, tortured, and crucified by the Romans at the behest of the Jewish leadership. His teachings had a significant impact on Judaism, resulting in the schism that gave birth to the Catholic Church, changing the course of human history for the next two millennia.

Top 10 Misconceptions About The Catholic Church

Someone once said that “without rules there is chaos.” Not to be outdone, many others have suggested that rules are meant to be broken. So, to summarize, humans want order that they can, when deemed necessary, violate. No one ever said we were an easy species to understand. That aside, it’s true we do like to impose rules and order when we realize things have gotten out of hand. Sometimes this makes perfect sense. There’s a rule that you shouldn’t murder or steal and most of us agree it’s necessary because how could society function otherwise. And then, sometimes, we find reason to make up rules for the most unpredictable of reasons.

10. Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournaments Had to Introduce a Hygiene Rule

If you’re not familiar with Yu-Gi-Oh!, it’s a Japanese manga series that evolved into a popular anime and a massively popular card game. The card game, launched in 1999, is still big and played in tournaments all around the world. In 2009, the game was awarded a Guinness World Record for being the top selling trading card game of all time, with over 22.5 billion cards sold at that time. 

Because the game is still so popular, those tournaments attract a lot of players and even spectators, usually in some fairly small spaces. And that’s part of the reason Konami, the company behind the game, had to make up a new rule in the year 2019 for tournament play. They made up a hygiene rule. It reads, in part, “all persons attending a tournament [are] to be clean and wear clean clothing. If you or your clothing is excessively dirty or bad-smelling, you can be penalized.”

While the rule sounds silly, apparently hygiene was an issue for so long that many players were quite happy with the revelation. You can imagine how frustrating it might be to have to sit across from someone for 40 minutes of gameplay when you can smell them the whole time.

9. The Stock Exchange Made Rules to Prevent Market Cornering

To those of us not concerned with the Stock Market it mostly seems like a bunch of nonsense that vaguely resembles rich people gambling and something to do with orange juice. But understanding the ins and outs of the stock market has allowed many people to make an incredible amount of wealth. And, sure, it’s caused a lot of people to lose it as well.

In order for the Stock Market to run more or less smoothly, there are rules for what can and cannot be done. The rules are not as set in stone as you might think, however, and in 1979 and 1980, they changed dramatically thanks to William and Nelson Hunt.

The Hunt brothers were rich because their father, H. L. Hunt was rich. He was one of the richest men on Earth in 1960. His sons had an idea on how to get even richer. There was a prohibition on Americans owning gold, so they started to buy silver. They ended up with about 100 million ounces of it. Then they hoarded it, creating a global shortage. The price climbed for $1.50 when they started buying it to nearly $50. Then the Federal Reserve suspended trading, and the price dropped like a rock. As brokers began selling the Hunts’ silver to pay back loans, the price plummeted by 78% But the brothers still had contracts to buy it at $50. 

The pair lost nearly $2 billion and went bankrupt. They were charged with trying to corner the market and fined. The exchange made up new rules. One stated no one could hold more than three million ounces from then on. Anyone who had more than 3 million had just a few months to sell down to three million. Sales could only be to approved buyers.

8. Monkeys Caused a Change to Indian Golf Rules

If you play golf at all, you’re likely familiar with “play it as it lies” rules. Basically, if something somehow interferes with the progress of your ball, it doesn’t matter. Wherever the ball stops rolling, you play it from there. So if it bounces off a tree, oh well. If it gets stuck in deep grass, good luck chopping it out. And in parts of India they had to adapt this rule for an unexpected side effect of playing golf in a land where it hadn’t been played before.

In certain parts of India, golf courses exist in the same space as monkeys and monkeys have, on occasion, taken an interest in the game. It’s not unheard of for a monkey to snatch a ball in play and run off with it. That’s frustrating for the golfers but it’s also part of the game now. Rules were made to account for it which are basically “play it where the monkey leaves it.”

This dates back to the English colonial presence in India when they tried to make Calcutta too much like English for their own good. The monkeys, new to golf, loved taking the balls and playing with them. The English fought back trying to use fences and more to keep them at bay, obviously to no avail. Even trapping them was no good. Eventually they gave in and just accepted the monkeys as another hazard, just like a sand trap.

7. The Olympic “Eddie the Eagle Rule”

There’s a lot of work that goes into making the Olympics a successful event and it has to happen on so many levels. You have hundreds of athletes that need to organize all around the world in addition to whatever the host city needs to do in order to prepare for everyone showing up. There are sponsors, infrastructure, media, security, and so much more involved. And, thanks to Eddie the Eagle, there also has to be some sort of proof you deserve to be there.

The Eddie the Eagle rule states that, if an athlete is to qualify for the Olympics, they either need to be in the top 30% or the top 50 performing competitors in their chosen event, whichever is fewer. This is because, prior to Eddie the Eagle, there wasn’t a guideline in place and apparently just anyone could end up at the Olympics if they were lucky enough. 

Eddie the Eagle, also known as Michael Edwards, was an English ski-jumper in the 1980s. In 1988, he was the first jumper England sent to the Olympics in 60 years, so people were stoked. He qualified, in part, because there was just no competition for him in Great Britain. He failed at alpine skiing, but there was no one on the ski jump team, so he took that up. 

Despite almost no funding which meant, for a time, he voluntarily stayed in a Finnish mental hospital because he needed room and board, and being so near-sighted he needed very prominent glasses at all times, he qualified for the Olympics by achieving a 70 meter jump at the ‘87 World Championships.

In Calgary, he used borrowed skis because he couldn’t afford his own gear. He was the underdog to beat all underdogs and people loved him. He was the worst performer at the Olympics that year, finishing last in 70m and 80m. 

Despite losing, he was certainly inspirational, and his perseverance moved people. That said, the rule to prevent under qualified amateurs from competing on the world stage was instituted right after, preventing any more underdogs from making it.

6. The Reindeer Rule Helps Ensure Religious Displays Aren’t Too Religious

Separation of church and state is a contentious issue for some and, at Christmas time, it often comes to a head. Not everyone thinks a nativity scene should be displayed in public on government property as it supports a Christian-specific perspective. But, thanks to the Supreme Court’s Reindeer Rule, that doesn’t matter.

In order to skirt the issue of religious displays in a secular space, all one needs to do is sprinkle a little secular charm. In this case, add Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer or a menorah to a nativity and it’s no longer Christian but holiday-themed. The reindeer means no one religion is being endorsed or promoted and so, arguably, everyone can be happy. 

5. An MLB Pitcher Forced a Rule Against Multiple Switch Pitching

In baseball, a switch hitter can bat left or right. They can sometimes shake up a pitcher by doing this. But there are also switch pitchers who can pitch left or right and potentially shake up a batter. So what happens when a switch hitter meets a switch pitcher? That’s where you get the Pat Venditte Rule.

In 2015, Venditte was the first switch pitcher since 1894 and everyone wondered what might happen. The official MLB rule states the pitcher must indicate which hand they intend to use for pitching by wearing a glove on the other hand. They cannot switch until the pitcher becomes a runner or the inning ends. 

Venditte inspired the rule in 2008 in the minors. He was warming up both arms and then was put up against a switch hitter named Ralph Henriquez. The two proceeded to switch back and forth for 7 minutes. The rule change meant this would never happen again.

4. Jeopardy Changed Rules to Prevent Cautious Players

Ever wonder why only the winner gets money on Jeopardy even if the other players have a positive balance at the end? Thank one man who wanted to get married in 1967. Back then, anyone who “won” money on Jeopardy took it home. This guy just wanted to win enough to buy an engagement ring. So he played and answered questions until he had enough. Then he just didn’t speak again. Half a game and he refused to play so as to not risk his winnings. Smart for him, but boring for TV audiences. 

The game was rebooted in 1984 and the new version had no rule change to prevent any more cautious players from clamming up. 

3. Airlines Banned Emotional Support Animals

Remember a few years ago when the internet was full of stories about service animals that were, for lack of a better word, ridiculous? People were bringing animals like pigs, alligators, snakes and, of course, numerous dogs and cats on planes under the guise that they were service or support animals. In 2020, that came to an end. Well, officially it did. People still try it. 

In an effort to end flying zoos, airlines changed the rules to state that only trained service dogs that could fit in a passenger’s floor space would count. Any other animal could travel, but it’d be a pet, and you’d have to pay and arrange for transport the same as any other pet. 

2. The NBA Changed Rules to Prevent Wilt Chamberlain from Dunking Past the Free Throw Line

Wilt Chamberlain was an absolute legend on the basketball court. He dominated like few players in history. 4,000 points in a single season. 100 points in a single game. Over 50 points per game average in one season. Literally dozens of other records. He was so good the NBA changed rules just to try to hold him in check. One of these rules involved how Chamberlain was able to dunk from the free throw line. 

The free throw line is 15 feet from the net. For most humans, jumping that far is impossible. Chamberlain could do it. The rules were changed to make this illegal as a result, a rule clearly specifically for Chamberlain since who else was ever doing that?

1. The International Skiing Association Changed the Point Scoring to Sabotage The Best Skier

Rules should be used to make things reasonable, safe, and fair. Sometimes they’re used to punish. Ingemar Stenmark was a Swedish skier who was really good at what he did. So good, in fact, that the International Skiing Association decided to sabotage him with a rule change to make him appear worse than he was.

Stenmark had won 86 World Cup races in 15 years as well as two Olympic gold medals among other awards. His events were slalom and giant slalom. In 1978-79 he was so far ahead of the competition he had locked the win at the World Cup two months before the competition was over. There was no way anyone could have won enough to beat him. So the rules were changed. 

Going forward, the overall World Cup would include downhill, an event Stenmark had never competed in. But, without it, he would automatically lose a third of his point standings. The result was Stenmark, with no interest in learning an entirely new event, would never win a World Cup again.