How to be a Gentleman
"For decades- maybe centuries- men have depended on women to set the rules for polite behavior. Sometimes that woman was the man's mother, sometimes she was his wife, sometimes she was a famous etiquette expert like Amy Vanderbilt or Emily Post.
There comes a time in every man's life when his mother isn't around any more. Married or not, he is expected to go to parties and to entertain. He has business associates to deal with and coworkers with whom he must get along. Such moments can fill a guy with needless terror. He may get frustrated trying to tie a bow tie or set his table correctly. He may find himself fumbling when he needs to introduce two of his best friends.
The truth of the matter is, being a gentleman is not rocket science. Being a gentleman requires a little logic, a bit of forethought, and a great deal of consideration for others. It is not about complicated rules and convoluted instructions. Instead, it is about trying to make life easier for other people. It is about honestly and sincerely being a nice guy.
For a guy the noblest virtues are camaraderie, dependability, and unswerving loyalty. It confuses him to think that his future might be ruined if he ate his entrée with a salad fork.
That is why this book spells out what a man really needs to know if he plans to make his way in this world.
Simply acting like a gentleman is not enough. It is being a gentleman that is important, and that means thinking of others, being there when you are needed, and knowing when you are not needed. It is what you do and who you are- an accumulation of gentlemanly behaviors over the course of a lifetime- that make a man a gentleman.
It truly is possible for a man to learn to be a gentleman if he has the direction he needs. For that reason, the women of the world will be glad this book exists."
And so it begins: the introduction from How to be a Gentleman: A Contemporary Guide to Common Courtesy. The book is divided into chapters- big surprise- but this chapter is not of a continuous text. It is separated into various statements, some only a sentence long, others a paragraph. Some of these a preceded by an introduction very similar to the one above.
Each day I will post three of these statements, guidelines to being a gentleman. Take out your pen and paper guys, this is important stuff.
Some of this is actually worth listening to, while some of it is utter crap. Have fun.
"Chapter One:
A Gentleman Experiences Real Life
1. A gentleman knows how to make others feel comfortable.
2. A gentleman knows how to make a grilled cheese at 2 A.M. and an omelet at 7 A.M.
3. If a gentleman has a cold, especially if he has a running fever, he declines all social invitations. If it is possible, he even stays home from work."
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