Qualities of a Gentleman
- He acts kindly from the impulse of his kind heart.
- He is brave, because, with a conscience void of offence, he has nothing to fear.
- He is never embarrassed, for he respects himself and is profoundly conscious of right intentions.
He keeps his honor unstained, and to retain the good opinion of others he neglects no civility.
- He respects even the prejudices of men whom he believes are honest.
- He opposes without bitterness and yields without admitting defeat.
- He is never arrogant, never weak.
- He bears himself with dignity, but never haughtily.
- Too wise to despise trifles, he is too noble to be mastered by them.
- To superiors he is respectful without servility; to equals courteous; to inferiors’ kind.
- He carries himself with grace in all places, is easy but never familiar, genteel without affection.
- He unites gentleness of manner with firmness of mind.
- He commands with mild authority, and asks favors with grace and assurance.
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Very Impolite Things
- Loud and boisterous laughter
- Reading when others are talking
- Reading aloud in company without being asked
- Talking when others are reading
- Spitting about the house, smoking or chewing
- Cutting your fingernails in company
- Leaving a church before public worship is closed
- Whispering or laughing in the house of God
- Gazing rudely at strangers
- Leaving a stranger without a seat
- Want of respect and reverence for seniors
- Correcting older persons than yourself, especially parents
- Receiving a present without an expression of gratitude
- Making yourself the hero of your own story
- Laughing at the mistakes of others
- Joking of all others in company
- Commencing to eat as soon as you get to the table
- In not listening to what one is saying in company - unless you desire to show open contempt for the speaker
- Speaking while one is singing or playing on the piano or other instrument - a direct insult to the performer
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