What is a gentleman? ppsx

What is a gentleman?

A gentleman is a gentle man. In this connection, the word
“gentle” means “noble”, as it does in the phrase “of gentle
birth”. So, originally, a gentleman was one who, by birth
and training, belonged to the upper classes. He was of
noble blood. Then, because the social manners of the
upper classes were refined, as compared with those of the
lower classes, anyone who knew how to behave in polite
society came to be called a gentleman. So
gentlemanliness came to refer to outward behavior. A man
who behaved like a gentleman was a gentle man.

In his description of a gentleman, Cardinal Newman goes
much deeper than this. His definition of a gentleman is,
“One who never inflicts pain”. “This description”, he says,
“is both refined and, so far as it goes, accurate”. “The true
gentleman”, he goes on, “carefully avoids whatever may
cause a jar or a jolt to the others – all class of opinions, or
collision of feelings, restraints, or suspicion, or gloom, or
resentment; his great concern is to make everyone at
ease and at home. He has eyes on all his company; he is
tender towards the bashful, gentle towards the distant, and
merciful towards the absurd… He makes light of favor
while he does them, and seems to be receiving when he is
conferring. He is patient, forbearing and resigned”.

Good manners, the manners of a gentleman, may be
superficial, and sometimes they may be a little insincere;
but they are as necessary to the continuance of society as
oil to the smooth working of a machine. And with people

who have naturally kindly hearts, politeness is neither
insincere nor artificial. For the essence of good manners is
consideration for the feelings of others, surely this is a
virtue. Someone has called good manners “surface
morals”, because the essence of true morals is
unselfishness.