There is much derisive talk by clever sociologists and deconstructionists about the obsolescence of the ideal of a gentleman. They mistake the stereotype they mock for the real thing. A gentleman need not be a fine figure of a man: high-born, rich, Eton-educated, Savile Row–dressed, King’s English–accented, possessing a commanding presence. Being a gentleman is not a matter of inheritance, wealth, or refinement. It needs to be earned by having a character with a sense of honor at its core. Character sets limits a gentleman will not cross and acknowledges responsibilities he will not shirk. It involves a commitment to a way of life that in some small or large way, by example or by action, contributes to making some lives better or protecting them from getting worse. Since this is not the best of all possible worlds, it is often difficult to be a gentleman and live honorably within self-imposed limits, meeting responsibilities both to oneself and to others.

“Gentleman” is an honorific title bestowed by others who have observed and admired those who deserve it because of how they live and conduct themselves, especially in circumstances in which much of what they value is threatened by adversities. It is a title not easily given. Gentlemen are not thick on the ground, but there are people in many walks of life who have a sense of honor and remain true to it even when it is hard to do so. The substance behind these words about