Irving Goffman

"Modern institutions control behavior through surveillance and classification."

"Civility is the oil that makes social interaction possible."

"We interpret others' behavior through frameworks we have learned."

"The presentation of self is an ongoing project of maintenance and repair."

"Different contexts call for different versions of the self."

"Stigma is not inherent in an attribute but assigned through interaction."

"We maintain multiple identities simultaneously across different social contexts."

"The audience for our performance shapes what we present."

"Social institutions teach us the appropriate way to be."

"Information management is a skill we develop throughout our lives."

"We are all implicated in each other's social performances."

"The breakdown of performance etiquette creates social disorder."

"Frame disputes occur when people disagree about what is happening."

"Interaction involves constant negotiation of meaning and identity."

"We judge others largely on their ability to maintain appropriate performance."

"The presentation of self is both liberating and constraining."

"Total institutions attempt to create total persons, not just controlled behavior."

"We learn to manage impressions through observation and correction."

"Respect in social interaction is earned through consistent performance."

"The self is a social product, created in interaction with others."

"We are all deeply concerned with how others perceive us."

"Stigmatization is a process of identity transformation through labeling."

"The presentation of self varies by culture, but the process is universal."

"We perform identity through speech, gesture, and appearance."

"Social order requires that people accept the performances of others."

"The interaction order is what makes society possible."

"We manage information to protect ourselves and present ourselves well."

"Institutions can be understood as systems for managing identity and behavior."

"The presentation of self is constrained by social norms and expectations."

"We are all skilled performers, though we rarely acknowledge it."