Lessons for my future sons (Part Five)
Posted by: carlotess on: October 19, 2010
It’s been a while since I updated, seeing as I have eleven parts of these lessons. So I just might post many at once. As a refresher, here are George Washington’s Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation. And this is what I will be teaching my sons:
41. Undertake not to teach your equal in the art himself proffesses; it savors of arrogancy.
I appreciate how many of these lessons involve humility and respect for others. Mommy has a tendency of arguing about something she’s only vaguely aware of when others ‘profess the art’ so don’t follow in her footsteps. Listen to what the doctors and professors have to say and then form your own opinion.
42. Let thy ceremonies in courtesie be proper to the dignity of his place with whom thou conversest for it is absurd to act the same with a clown and a prince.
The use of slang must strictly remain with your peers. Other people cannot possibly interpret what you are saying to them if they are not in your age group. Use courteous words like ‘sir’ or ‘madam’ when speaking to someone of high esteem and not ‘gwe guy’ like you would to your friend.
43. Do not express joy before one sick or in pain for that contrary passion will aggravate his misery.
All I can say about this is I believe I’ve taught you better.
44. When a man does all he can though it succeeds not well, blame not him that did it.
Appreciate others’ efforts even if they don’t meet your expectations. Blame will not get the job done and a thank you will go a long way.
45. Being to advise or reprehend any one, consider whether it ought to be in publick or in private; presently, or at some other time in what terms to do it & in reproving show no sign of cholar but do it with all sweetness and mildness.
Sometimes, an eye is all you need for someone to know that they are doing the wrong thing. Naming and shaming will not do anything for a lot of people, so it would be better to save their dignity and reprove them in private as opposed to embarrassing them in public.
46. Take all admonitions thankfully in what time or place soever given but afterwards not being culpable take a time & place convenient to let him know it that gave them.
Don’t argue with your teacher when they try to show you something wrong, even if you feel they are in the wrong. Take a breather to think about the situation and evaluate it. If you feel you have been wrongly admonished, let them know.
47. Mock not nor jest at any thing of importance break no jest that are sharp biting and if you deliver any thing witty and pleasant abstain from laughing thereat yourself.
Laughing at your own jokes makes you a douche and girls don’t like that. But more importantly, do not crack jokes at another’s expense. ‘Do unto others what you would like them to do unto you’. Words of wisdom.
48. Wherein you reprove another be unblameable yourself; for example is more prevalent than precepts.
Do as I do is the right way to go, not do as I say as is common. It is better to lead by example. Would you take me serious if I told you alcohol was bad for you and yet I drank myself? Exactly.
49. Use no reproachfull language against any one; neither curse nor revile.
I know you adhere to this rule, because I raised you better.
50. Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement of any.
And be not hasty to spread these flying reports yourself, even if you feel they are from the correct source. In all things, remain blameless, especially when it comes to gossip.
Leave a Reply
Yours Truly
My way of giving the glory back to God through writing. It's not all religion but it's always glorifying Him.
