Discipline vs. Manners — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 28, 2023

Discipline refers to controlled behavior or self-control, often requiring training. Manners are specific behavioral guidelines in social situations, emphasizing politeness.

Difference Between Discipline and Manners

Table of Contents

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Key Differences

Discipline typically involves training oneself or others to follow a particular order or code of behavior. It's a broad concept that can apply to many areas of life, from personal habits to professional work ethics. Discipline requires consistency, commitment, and sometimes sacrifice to maintain a desired behavior or to avoid undesired ones.

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Manners, conversely, are specific rules of conduct in social situations. They pertain to how one interacts with others, ensuring respect and courtesy. Manners can vary across cultures and societies but usually emphasize making those around one comfortable through one's behavior.

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When thinking about personal growth and development, Discipline plays a crucial role. It's the force that helps individuals stick to their resolutions, wake up early for a workout, or avoid procrastination. Discipline is often self-imposed, aiming to achieve long-term benefits despite short-term challenges.

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In contrast, Manners play a pivotal role in social harmony. They dictate how one should behave at the dinner table, how to greet someone, or how to converse without offending. While discipline is internal and personal, manners are external and interpersonal, directly impacting those around us.

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In essence, both Discipline and Manners contribute to the fabric of societal functioning. While discipline helps maintain personal order and growth, manners ensure smooth, respectful, and harmonious interpersonal interactions.

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Comparison Chart

Nature

Broad concept of controlled behavior

Specific rules of conduct in social scenarios

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Focus

Personal habits and work ethics

Interaction and politeness

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Scope

Personal and professional

Social and cultural

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Impact

Personal growth and development

Social harmony and respect

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Imposition

Often self-imposed

Societal or cultural imposition

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Compare with Definitions

Discipline

Discipline is action or inaction that is regulated to be in accordance (or to achieve accord) with a particular system of governance. Discipline is commonly applied to regulating human and animal behavior to its society or environment it belongs.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

The way something is done or happens.

The manners of her speech were captivating.

Oct 28, 2023

Discipline

Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement

Was raised in the strictest discipline.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

A person's outward bearing or demeanor.

His arrogant manners made him unpopular.

Oct 28, 2023

Discipline

Control obtained by enforcing compliance or order

Military discipline.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

Socially acceptable behavior and etiquette.

Good manners are appreciated in formal settings.

Oct 28, 2023

Discipline

Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control

Dieting takes a lot of discipline.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

A way of doing something or the way in which a thing is done or happens

Prepared for the trip in a very organized manner.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

A state of order based on submission to rules and authority

A teacher who demanded discipline in the classroom.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

A way of acting; bearing or behavior

He is known for his reserved manner.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

Punishment intended to correct or train

Subjected to harsh discipline.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

The socially correct way of acting; etiquette

Had trouble mastering manners in his new country.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

A set of rules or methods, as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

The prevailing customs, social conduct, and norms of a specific society, period, or group, especially as the subject of a literary work

A novel of 18th-century manners.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

A branch of knowledge or teaching

The discipline of mathematics.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

Practice, style, execution, or method in the arts

This fresco is typical of the painter's early manner.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

To train by instruction and practice, as in following rules or developing self-control

The sergeant disciplined the recruits to become soldiers.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

Kind; sort

What manner of person is she?.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

To punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

Kinds; sorts

Saw all manner of people at the mall.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

To impose order on

Needed to discipline their study habits.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

Plural of manner

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

A controlled behaviour; self-control.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

Etiquette.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

An enforced compliance or control.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

Social deportment;

He has the manners of a pig

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

A systematic method of obtaining obedience.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

Polite or well-bred behavior.

Children are often taught manners from a young age.

Oct 28, 2023

Discipline

A state of order based on submission to authority.

Apr 02, 2023

Manners

Customary ways of behaving in a society.

Different countries have different table manners.

Oct 28, 2023

Discipline

A set of rules regulating behaviour.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

A punishment to train or maintain control.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

A specific branch of knowledge or learning.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

A category in which a certain art, sport or other activity belongs.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

(transitive) To train someone by instruction and practice.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

(transitive) To teach someone to obey authority.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

(transitive) To punish someone in order to (re)gain control.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

(transitive) To impose order on someone.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

The treatment suited to a disciple or learner; education; development of the faculties by instruction and exercise; training, whether physical, mental, or moral.

Wife and children are a kind of discipline of humanity.

Discipline aims at the removal of bad habits and the substitution of good ones, especially those of order, regularity, and obedience.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

Training to act in accordance with established rules; accustoming to systematic and regular action; drill.

Their wildness lose, and, quitting nature's part,Obey the rules and discipline of art.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

Subjection to rule; submissiveness to order and control; habit of obedience.

The most perfect, who have their passions in the best discipline, are yet obliged to be constantly on their guard.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

Severe training, corrective of faults; instruction by means of misfortune, suffering, punishment, etc.

A sharp discipline of half a century had sufficed to educate us.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

Correction; chastisement; punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.

Giving her the discipline of the strap.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

The subject matter of instruction; a branch of knowledge.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

The enforcement of methods of correction against one guilty of ecclesiastical offenses; reformatory or penal action toward a church member.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

Self-inflicted and voluntary corporal punishment, as penance, or otherwise; specifically, a penitential scourge.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

A system of essential rules and duties; as, the Romish or Anglican discipline.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

To educate; to develop by instruction and exercise; to train.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

To accustom to regular and systematic action; to bring under control so as to act systematically; to train to act together under orders; to teach subordination to; to form a habit of obedience in; to drill.

Ill armed, and worse disciplined.

His mind . . . imperfectly disciplined by nature.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

To improve by corrective and penal methods; to chastise; to correct.

Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly?

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

To inflict ecclesiastical censures and penalties upon.

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

A branch of knowledge;

In what discipline is his doctorate?

Teachers should be well trained in their subject

Anthropology is the study of human beings

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

A system of rules of conduct or method of practice;

He quickly learned the discipline of prison routine

For such a plan to work requires discipline

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

The trait of being well behaved;

He insisted on discipline among the troops

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

Training to improve strength or self-control

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

The act of punishing;

The offenders deserved the harsh discipline they received

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

Train by instruction and practice; especially to teach self-control;

Parents must discipline their children

Is this dog trained?

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

Punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience;

The teacher disciplined the pupils rather frequently

Apr 02, 2023

Discipline

Training to improve strength or self-control.

Martial arts require rigorous discipline.

Oct 28, 2023

Discipline

The practice of training oneself to obey rules.

Discipline is key to a successful study routine.

Oct 28, 2023

Discipline

Control gained by enforcing obedience or order.

The new manager brought discipline to the chaotic team.

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Discipline

Behavior in accord with rules of conduct.

Discipline in classrooms leads to effective learning.

Oct 28, 2023

Discipline

A field of study or expertise.

She pursued a discipline in molecular biology.

Oct 28, 2023

Common Curiosities

Can Discipline be self-imposed?

Yes, often discipline is self-imposed for personal growth.

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Why are Manners important in society?

Manners ensure respectful and harmonious social interactions.

Oct 28, 2023

Can Discipline apply to professional settings?

Yes, discipline in work ethics can lead to professional success.

Oct 28, 2023

Are Manners universal?

No, manners can vary across cultures and societies.

Oct 28, 2023

How does Discipline aid personal development?

Discipline helps maintain consistency and commitment to goals.

Oct 28, 2023

Are Discipline and Manners the same?

No, discipline is about controlled behavior, while manners focus on social etiquette.

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Can Manners be learned?

Absolutely, manners are often taught from a young age.

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Does Discipline always mean punishment?

No, discipline is more about training and control than punishment.

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How do Manners affect relationships?

Good manners can foster respect and understanding in relationships.

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How do Manners reflect culture?

Manners often encapsulate cultural values and norms.

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Do Manners change over time?

Yes, societal norms and manners can evolve.

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Is Discipline always self-driven?

Not always, discipline can also be instilled by external factors.

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What's a benefit of having strong Discipline?

It helps in achieving long-term goals despite short-term challenges.

Oct 28, 2023

Are table etiquette and Manners the same?

Table etiquette is a subset of manners focused on dining.

Oct 28, 2023

Can Discipline be applied to mental tasks?

Yes, mental tasks like studying require discipline.

Oct 28, 2023

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Written by

Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.