The study examines literary texts of the early Modern Age from a broad variety of genres taking a moralistic stance on the do's and don'ts of everyday communication (lies, boasting, denigration, good advice, silence etc.). Drawing upon approaches pursued in the theory of civilization, the sources are placed in the context of the Christianization of Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries and examined for the light they cast on strategies for the establishment of standards for 'seemly' discourse. In addition, Andreas Gryphius' famous first "Reyen der Höflinge" is given a new interpretation in terms of its function as a normative text on everyday speech behaviour.