The Rules of the Gentleman

[Tartan Tess]

Since I am from the West...

Gene Autry's "Cowboy Code"
1. The cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man or take unfair advantage.
2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.
3. He must always tell the truth.
4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly and animals.
5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
6. He must help people in distress.
7. He must be a good worker.
8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action and personal habits.
9. He must respect women, parents and his nation's laws.
10. The cowboy is a patriot.

[BoldHighlander]

Since I am from the West...

Gene Autry's "Cowboy Code"
1. The cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man or take unfair advantage.
2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.
3. He must always tell the truth.
4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly and animals.
5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
6. He must help people in distress.
7. He must be a good worker.
8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action and personal habits.
9. He must respect women, parents and his nation's laws.
10. The cowboy is a patriot.

Up here in the Northwest we call 'em "Buckaroos"

Thanks Tess, I have this one posted on my facebook. I've also (somewhere) have Roy Rogers cowboy code and the Lone Ranger's junior ranger code, and somewhere I also have the junior G-man's code from the 1930's.
Maybe I'll see if I can dig them up sometime.

[BoldHighlander]

Great list.
My father never told them to me, but he lived them and taught by example.
(except he didn't wear a hat)

Neither did mine wear a hat .... but both my grandfather and uncle did (as do I).

[KenB]

Etiquette was drilled into me. Appropriate decorum, manners, etc. I never just thought of these things as only for a Gentleman. Proper etiquette is something that seems to be continually eroded in society. Hat etiquette has certainly been ignored as well as appropriate table manners. Nothing so disappointing as seeing a stunningly beautiful bride shoveling food into her mouth while her elbows were firmly rooted to the table seemingly to guard her plate.

[longhuntr74]

Very nice.

One rule I read years ago was "A Gentleman never unintentionally insults anyone." I will admit it took me some additional time to fully understand what this meant.

LOL...I like this one!

It reminds me of Ben Franklin's counsel to John Adams in the HBO Miniseries (John Adams). In the scene, John is very new to politics and rather hot headed and had basically called one of his fellow members of the Congress "a snake on his belly slithering towards the seat of power." Ben Franklin pulls Adams aside in a tavern later that day and provides him some friendly advice about the art of diplomacy. I know I won't get these lines 100% accurate, because I'm going from memory...but it's pretty close.

Franklin: "You publicly insulted him!"

Adams: "Would you rather I had insulted him privately?"

Franklin: "Yes! Perfectly acceptable to insult a man in private! Sometimes, he might even thank you for it after the fact. But when you do it in public, it tends to make them think you are serious!"

This exchange has always given me a laugh!

[eagle43172]

Most of the men important in my early life followed these rules. When I was of age, I promised to do my duty to God and country, obey the scout law, help others, and keep fit, exercise my mind, and live a moral life. Further pledged to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, frieldly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. I still follow that path to this day (though not always as successfully as I'd like) and gave my son the same opportunity. It's a shame that in todays society being a "gentleman" is seen as either a reactionary zealot or a comical anachronism.
My 2 cents.

[Standard]

Well stated rules for every gentleman to follow, too bad more don't.

[ccga3359]

I question #14.

[davedove]

A principle you semdom see, but should see more often:

A gentleman is quick to give credit, and even quicker to take responsibility.

[Tartan Tess]

My Grandfather would stand up in his living room for a picture of the US flag on television.
I thought the Cowboy code and the Gentlemans code were both wonderful. I grew up with the "John Wayne movie" code of honor and I am proud of it.
When I see commercials for "kids" movies like the new Alvin and the Chipmonks, I shake my head. (The trailer has the girl chipmonks "Shakin their booty") as a school bus driver for 31 years, I see how YOUR children and Grandchildren act around their peers daily. Elementary kids shouldn't be in the least bit worried about being "Hot" but they are.
Thank God these morals are still a very large part of alot of us today, try to pass them on.