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The World Needs More Gentlemen And Fewer Men
Ten behaviors of guys with impeccable class
Long ago, the title of gentleman belonged to men of the right lineage who were removed from manual labor.
Those rigid requirements loosened in the 1700s. Richard Steele, a British politician of the era, wrote in 1710, “The appellation of Gentleman is never to be affixed to a man’s circumstances, but to his behavior in them.”
The definition continues to evolve in line with cultural trends. But it’s not the definition that’s problematic. It’s that men no longer desire the appellation of Gentleman. Usage of the word began to decline in 1852, and it’s still falling according to Google Ngram.
In modern times, the macho male caricature holds more sway. We see gentlemanship as archaic and weak while we look up to the primal man — those who consume power, take what they want, and use any means necessary to achieve their aims.
That’s why we need more gentlemen and fewer men. The mere man values himself above all else, while the gentleman values his character above all else. He also lives by these ten virtues.
