I would note the etiquette in the picture for this post: Never fail to walk between the lady you are escorting and the road.
Tim
· 9 months ago
"Never associate with bad company. Have good company, or none."
Something I've always believed said better than I've ever been able to put it.
Seth
· 9 months ago
Well put! Thank you!
Wil Wade
· 9 months ago
"Never, when walking arm in arm with a lady, be continually changing and going to the other side, because of change of corners. It shows too much attention to form."
I would disagree with this in the case of today as most of the world does not have sidewalks and wide margins from the street. I would say to attempt to always stay between the lady and the passing vehicles. Today it is a matter of safety not a matter of mud splatter.
Jacob
· 9 months ago
Wish more business men and women would follow these, who knows we may not be in the current economic crisis we are in now
Uberhack
· 9 months ago
Great list. Timeless and wise.
Except for the line, "Never laugh at the misfortunes of others."
Some of the best and heartiest laughs I've ever had was after a buddy does something knuckeheaded or clumsy. Should be a clause in there for laughing at friends.
Jsthegr8
· 9 months ago
Thank YOUS
Jeff
· 9 months ago
This was definitely my favorite:
"Never attempt to convey the impression that you are a genius, by imitating the faults of distinguished men. Because certain great men were poor penmen, wore long hair, or had other peculiarities, it does not follow that you will be great by imitating their eccentricities."
I know a lot of guys who need this advice.
Rod Newbound, RN
· 9 months ago
An interesting find. Thanks for sharing Brett & Kate.
One which immediately jumped out at me is: "Never associate with bad company. Have good company, or none."
It reflects a saying of George Washington: "Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company."
Jack
· 9 months ago
I especially like the rule about leaving a postage stamp in letters you send asking for help. I know it really doesn't apply now but I found it cleverly polite.
Mike J
· 9 months ago
Rod Newbound, above, mentioned George Washington. If you like this kind of book, then his 'Rules of Civility' is a must read. Interestingly enough, this set of rules was itself based on another book by French Jesuit priests that Washington had read as a young man. I'm sure we could trace them back even farther to Greek philosophers and beyond, so I'm so glad you posted this article. It is so important to keep these traditions alive.
Virilitas
· 9 months ago
@Mike: I have read that Washington copied out the rules (from the Jesuit book) by hand in order to learn them. Thanks to Art of Manliness, we have additional rules to copy out and to let sink in. For maximum efficiency, I like to combine that sort of repetitive-writing, memory exercise with penmanship practice.
Mario Bertoluzzi
· 9 months ago
How great, Brett. Thank you for your service to us! You dig up these great things. I read this with my wife and we very much enjoyed it.
Mike M.
· 9 months ago
I don't think there is anyone alive who can honestly say they have done all of these. Certainly I can't.
All Comments
That poem at the end really touched, enough so that I looked it up. The rest of the poem is also very poignant.
It's called "Our Own" by Margaret Sangster.
http://books.google.com/books?id=Eo0oAAAAMAAJ&a...
Something I've always believed said better than I've ever been able to put it.
I would disagree with this in the case of today as most of the world does not have sidewalks and wide margins from the street. I would say to attempt to always stay between the lady and the passing vehicles. Today it is a matter of safety not a matter of mud splatter.
Except for the line, "Never laugh at the misfortunes of others."
Some of the best and heartiest laughs I've ever had was after a buddy does something knuckeheaded or clumsy. Should be a clause in there for laughing at friends.
"Never attempt to convey the impression that you are a genius, by imitating the faults of distinguished men. Because certain great men were poor penmen, wore long hair, or had other peculiarities, it does not follow that you will be great by imitating their eccentricities."
I know a lot of guys who need this advice.
One which immediately jumped out at me is: "Never associate with bad company. Have good company, or none."
It reflects a saying of George Washington: "Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company."
But that fact should not dissuade us from trying.