Originally Posted by
Peter Crowe
Well stated Bill. The problem with a term like gentleman is that it has evolved in meaning over centuries from someone who could live independently from an income derived from landholding in early modern Europe to evolving codes of socially perceptive and considerate behaviour. I am also aware that the concept (however defined) can be traced further back in many cultures and was something Confucius treated of in his writings in ancient China. One common feature of a gentleman throughout history is a concern with mutual relationships and obligations which are not necessarily legally mandated. ...
It's not Confucius, but I suppose "gentleman" could be substituted in to this; hope it's all right to quote.
1. The skilful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels or footsteps; the skilful speaker says nothing that can be found fault with or blamed; the skilful reckoner uses no tallies; the skilful closer needs no bolts or bars, while to open what he has shut will be impossible; the skilful binder uses no strings or knots, while to unloose what he has bound will be impossible. In the same way the sage is always skilful at saving men, and so he does not cast away any man; he is always skilful at saving things, and so he does not cast away anything. This is called 'Hiding the light of his procedure.'
2. Therefore the man of skill is a master (to be looked up to) by him who has not the skill; and he who has not the skill is the helper of (the reputation of) him who has the skill. If the one did not honour his master, and the other did not rejoice in his helper, an (observer), though intelligent, might greatly err about them. This is called 'The utmost degree of mystery.' (ch. 27)
I'm quoting from the old James Legge translation of Lao-Tze's The Tao Teh King (Project Gutenberg EBook #216).
Re: The Rules of the Gentleman
Bookmarks