The Rules of the Gentleman

[Peter Crowe]

When I first read the list, I didn't agree with, or fit into all of the "Rules," nor did I feel inferior for failing to meet them precisely, but I chuckled because I think I knew where this set of rules was going and it struck a chord with me.

Obviously from the typesetting they were not the original poster's personal opinion, but rather something he had found that struck a chord with him too. In my mind, they brought forward a general sense of something that while it has morphed over time (thus, I think, many of the disagreements) still remains true in its essence - not its detail. A focus on the small disagreements I believe may inadvertently diminish something that while no longer contemporary, is nonetheless valuable.

Thank you, Bold Highlander, for posting something that reaches back into time to pull forward, not an accurate definition, but an accurate sense of something that may yet be lost if we get too fussy about detail. The general concept is worth keeping. Those who cannot see or understand it may need to watch some old Gary Cooper and Bing Crosby movies!

Bill

Well stated Bill. The problem with a term like gentleman is that it has evolved in meaning over centuries from someone who could live independently from an income derived from landholding in early modern Europe to evolving codes of socially perceptive and considerate behaviour. I am also aware that the concept (however defined) can be traced further back in many cultures and was something Confucius treated of in his writings in ancient China. One common feature of a gentleman throughout history is a concern with mutual relationships and obligations which are not necessarily legally mandated.

Although difficult to adequately define, I believe most of us recognize a gentleman (or a lady for that matter) when we meet one. I may be biased but both my father and late grandfathers are/were gentlemen in terms of how they conducted themselves, and along with my late mother (who was very definitely a lady) endeavored to bring me up and mentor me to be such. Their level of success or otherwise is for others to judge.

As for what the OP stated it was the general message rather than the particulars (some of which I also found anachronistic) which struck a chord with me.