The ideal of a gentleman, or, A mirror for gentlefolks : a portrayal in literature from the earliest times / by A. Smythe-Palmer.
- Abram Smythe Palmer
- Date:
- [1908]
Licence: In copyright
Credit: The ideal of a gentleman, or, A mirror for gentlefolks : a portrayal in literature from the earliest times / by A. Smythe-Palmer. Source: Wellcome Collection.
117/542 page 101
![You know how essential strict honour is to the character of a gentleman, as well as to the quiet of his mind, and I am persuaded that you will never forfeit it. r Lord Chesterfield, Letters to his God-son, p. 213. A gentleman is a Christian in spirit that will take a polish. The rest are but plated goods, and however excellent their fashion, rub them more or less, the base metal will appear through, 1835, T. Walker, The Original,.^. 344 (6th ed,). Gentility in Man—supposes an original frankness of charac- ter, improved by education and knowledge of the world into an amiable deportment; and to arrive at the ultima thule of fascination he should (like the physician) be endowed with an eagle’s eye, a lion’s heart, and a lady’s hand. [ab. 1835] The Book of Gentility, p. 40, A Christian is God Almighty’s gentleman : a gentleman, in the vulgar, superficial way of understanding the word, is the Devil’s Christian. But to throw aside these polisht and too current counterfeits for something valuable and sterling, the real gentleman should be gentle in everything, at least in everything that depends on himself,-—in carriage, temper, constructions, aims, desires. He ought therefore to be mild, calm, quiet, even, temperate,-—not hasty in judgment, not exorbitant in ambition, not overbearing, not proud, not rapacious, not oppressive ; for these things are contrary to gentleness. Many such gentlemen are to be found, I trust ; and many more would be, were the true meaning of the name borne in mind and duly inculcated. But alas ! we are misled by etymology, and because a gentleman was originally homo gentilis, people seem to fancy they shall lose caste unless they act as Gentiles. 1847, J. and A. Hare, Guesses at Truth, p. 222. A Gentleman will be kind and considerate to all persons, but especially to the afflicted, the aged, children, women and servants. A Gentleman will not stand quietly by and see wrong done to others. J, H. L. Christien, What is a Gentleman ? § 4, 28..](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29008529_0119.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
