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Washington did, however, receive his surveyor's license from the College of William and Mary in 1749. During Washington's boyhood, he schooled himself in the gentlemanly arts by copying the 110 maxims of the Rules of Civility. This book of social maxims encouraged one's deference to superiors and instructed Washington on how to develop a fine line between self-abasement and humility. One rule mandated that all actions done in company must show respect to those who are present. Such lessons were critical in the eighteenth century — a time when etiquette and self-presentation were key badges of social and economic class. Knowledge of skills such as surveying or mathematics, which Washington gained largely through self-study, would have been meaningless for his social advancement without displaying appropriate manners. From an early age, Washington used this etiquette manual to master the arts of interpersonal skills and self-control that were crucial to his future leadership. Born into mid-level gentry status, Washington seized opportunities to fill in gaps in his formal education through extensive readings, practicing elite behaviors, and formulating a list of prominent connections.
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