A gentleman is a man of refinement. He is a well polished man who has worked on his behaviour to attain the state of perfection. He is distinguished for his excellence in thought, manners and taste. He has a flawless, impeccable character. The Spanish call him a don.
The character of a gentleman
A gentleman never inflicts pain. Rather his main preoccupation is to remove obstacles which hinder the progress of people around him.
A perfect gentleman carefully avoids whatever may cause a jolt in the minds of those with whom he associates, besides shunning collision of feelings, gloom or resentment. His great concern is to ensure that everyone is at ease and comfortable. He is tender toward the bashful, gentle towards the distant and merciful towards the absurd. He makes light of favours while he does them, and seems to be receiving when he is actually conferring.
A true gentleman never boasts of his achievements; he has no ears for slander or gossip. Rather than imputes contrary motives to those who interfere with him, he interprets everything for the best. A don, as the Spanish will call a gentleman is never mean; neither does he take unfair advantages of others. He does not insinuate evil; he has too much good sense to be affronted at insults, too well employed to remember injuries, and too tolerant to bear malice.
A refined man is patient and long-suffering. Whenever he engages in controversy of any kind, his disciplined intellect preserves him from making the blunder of thinking too highly of himself.
Meanwhile an unrefined man is like a blunt cutlass that tears and hacks instead of cutting clean; he turns the key point in discourse upside down. He wastes his strength and time on trivialities.
However, a purified man is too clear-headed to dally on frivolities. He is decisive in all his undertakings. He is honest in all his dealings, humble enough to acknowledge his shortcomings, and then takes a clear step to rid himself of such impurities. He is not as haughty as not to say ‘I am sorry’ whenever he has to. A refined man who can find!
References: Psalm 15:1-2; Psalm 24:3-5; Psalm 101:3-4; Psalm 106:3; Psalm 112:4; Psalm 112:7-8; Proverbs 2:7; Proverbs 2:11; Proverbs 2:20; Proverbs 11:5-6; Proverbs 13:6; Isaiah 32:17; Isaiah 33:15-16; Daniel 12:3; Hosea 10:12; Mathew 12:35; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9; 2 Timothy 2:22; James 3:11-18; 2 Peter 1:5-9; 1 John 2:10-11.
