"Manners are the basic building blocks of civil society." ― Alexander McCall Smith Topic(s): Society More From Alexander McCall Smith "Writers obviously have to bear witness to the harsh face of the age." "It seems to me that we’re in danger of losing sight of certain basic civic values in society by allowing the growth of a whole generation of people who really have no sense of attachment to society." "I think people in Botswana are pleased that my books paint a positive picture of their lives and portray the country as being very special. They’ve made a great success of their country, and the people are fed up with the constant reporting of only the problems and poverty of the continent. They welcome something which puts the positive side." More In Society "There is no longer a single common impediment to blacks emerging in this society."― Constance Baker Motley "In every interview I have ever read or seen or taken part in, the final question in our future-oriented society is always, What next?"― Jessica Savitch "In emerging democracies like Russia, in authoritarian states like Iran or even Yugoslavia, journalists play a vital role in civil society. In fact, they form the very basis of those new democracies and civil societies."― Christiane Amanpour