nobility obliges: a gentleman's credo

noblesse oblige

nobility obliges

St Matthew 25:34-36

Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

2 Corinthians 9:6

The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Iliad, Book XII

Homer: translation by Alexander Pope

Sarpedon exhorts Glaucus, his comrade.

'Tis ours, the dignity they give to grace

The first in valour, as the first in place;

That when with wondering eyes our confidential bands

Behold our deeds transcending our commands,

Such, they may cry, deserve the sovereign state,

Whom those that envy dare not imitate!

The Grand Old Name of Gentleman

by the Rev. John R. Vernon, in Contemporary Review, vol. XI, May-August 1869.

The Gentleman is always truthful and sincere; will not agree for the sake of complaisance or out of weakness; will not pass over that of which he disapproves. He has a clear soul, and a fearless, straightforward tongue. On the other hand, he is not blunt and rude. His truth is courteous; his courtesy, truthful; never a humbug, yet, where he truthfully can, he prefers to say pleasant things.

A Gentleman's Credo

1. A gentleman trusts in God.
2. A gentleman lives the Gospel.
3. A gentleman is kind, not cruel.
4. A gentleman is a lifelong learner.
5. A gentleman is a model of virtue.
6. A gentleman can laugh at himself.
7. A gentleman is a man of goodwill.
8. A gentleman embraces his crosses.
9. A gentleman is patient and forgiving.
10. A gentleman knows fact from fiction.
11. A gentleman is unquestionably honest.
12. A gentleman is not jealous nor boastful.
13. A gentleman puts family before himself.
14. A gentleman uses his power in just ways.
15. A gentleman is not irritable nor resentful.
16. A gentleman respects legitimate authority.
17. A gentleman is a man of civility and grace.
18. A gentleman practices self-sacrificing love.
19. A gentleman honours his father and mother.
20. A gentleman is cultured, not crass nor crude.
21. A gentleman is a realist and a man of reason.
22. A gentleman delights in the success of others.
23. A gentleman values the trust of a good woman.
24. A gentleman is an example of habitual modesty.
25. A gentleman is confident, not arrogant nor rude.
26. A gentleman listens and thinks before he speaks.
27. A gentleman is a man of refined humour and wit.
28. A gentleman can be playful; childlike, not childish.
29. A gentleman does not merely go along to get along.
30. A gentleman never lords his knowledge over others.
31. A gentleman regularly enjoys time with his children.
32. A gentleman does not hesitate to ask for forgiveness.
33. A gentleman is a loyal friend and a trusted confidant.
34. A gentleman is organized and hard working, not lazy.
35. A gentleman is a person of balance in mind and body.
36. A gentleman is a faithful provider and loving husband.
37. A gentleman acknowledges and affirms the natural law.
38. A gentleman knows how to cook and is a gracious host.
39. A gentleman expresses awe at the workings of the Lord.
40. A gentleman means what he says and says what he means.
41. A gentleman protects children and defends their innocence.
42. A gentleman has a heart of a child and the head of an adult.
43. A gentleman is a man of mercy and immediate forgiveness.
44. A gentleman is a man of his word, and his word is his bond.
45. A gentleman is the epitome of prudence and common sense.
46. A gentleman allows himself to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
47. A gentleman is polite, considerate, and a model of hospitality.
48. A gentleman is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
49. A gentleman does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.
50. A gentleman demonstrates moderation in all things save charity.
51. A gentleman feels deeply but is not ruled by disordered passions.
52. A gentleman is right and ready to defend the honour of a woman.
53. A gentleman defends human life from conception to natural death.
54. A gentleman always acts respectfully and in the best interest of others.
55. A gentleman is a man of piety, of prayer and devotion, and of fortitude.
56. A gentleman ensures the safety of another person in need of protection.
57. A gentleman strives to see and serve Jesus Christ in everyone he meets.
58. A gentleman has high expectations and is a generous provider of support.
59. A gentleman never gossips nor elevates himself at the expense of another.
60. A gentleman does not excuse his faults; he seeks to improve himself daily.
61. A gentleman holds himself accountable and does not hesitate to apologize.
62. A gentleman is not argumentative, but intervenes when correction is merited.
63. A gentleman possesses a virtuous curiosity and wonder about the natural world.
64. A gentleman will rise to leadership when circumstances require his participation.
65. A gentleman does not repeat his mistakes nor does he commit the errors of others.
66. A gentleman speaks the truth in a beautiful way for the good and salvation of others.
67. A gentleman is creative and constructive, and mindful of the benefits of consultation.
68. A gentleman provides his children with challenges that help them to mature as human beings.
69. A gentleman shows his love for his children by providing discipline in a calm and fair manner.
70. A gentleman willingly offers comfort to the lost or injured, and material assistance to the needy.