Erving Goffman

"Small talk serves the crucial function of establishing social presence"

"People often lie not to deceive but to maintain a coherent self-image"

"Interaction involves a constant reading of facial expressions and body language"

"Social competence involves knowing when to perform and when to be natural"

"The public self is always a strategic selection from the available self"

"We are all engaged in the work of making ourselves presentable"

"Stigma can be managed through selective disclosure and strategic interaction"

"People invest in relationships that consistently affirm their self-concept"

"The maintenance of self requires ongoing social validation and support"

"Every interaction is a test of social competence and personal worth"

"We use language strategically to accomplish social goals and manage impressions"

"Authenticity and performance are not opposites but partners in social life"

"People become more authentic as they develop trust in social relationships"

"The ability to recover from social failure is a mark of maturity"

"Every setting contains opportunities for both self-affirmation and humiliation"

"Social roles provide structure but also constrain individual expression"

"People are most creative when they feel safe from judgment and evaluation"

"The self requires an audience to fully exist and be recognized"

"Interaction rituals serve the function of maintaining emotional equilibrium"

"We negotiate constantly about what kind of interaction is appropriate"

"The presentation of self is a universal human activity across all cultures"

"People preserve dignity through the strategic use of humor and deflection"

"Social life is possible because people can control their behavior and expressions"

"The breakdown of interaction order is experienced as deeply threatening"

"We are always partially conscious of our performances even in intimate moments"

"Social institutions persist because people choose to maintain them through interaction"

"Respect is earned through consistent and competent performance of valued roles"

"Every person carries multiple potential selves waiting to be called forth"

"The ability to empathize with others enhances our own social performance"

"People reveal themselves gradually as trust increases in relationships"