"Manners are the hypocrisy of a nation"

In this quote, Honore de Balzac is suggesting that the principle of good manners is a type of insincerity or deceit within a society. He thinks that the way individuals behave and provide themselves in public is often an exterior, hiding their true thoughts and sensations. Balzac is suggesting that good manners are a way for people to comply with societal expectations and standards, instead of revealing their genuine selves. He may likewise be slamming the idea of good manners as a way to keep social hierarchy and power dynamics. Overall, Balzac is questioning the credibility and true nature of good manners within a nation.