Someone once said that a gentleman is "A man who knows how to play the bagpipes - but doesn't". I always took this to mean that a gentleman is a fellow who has at his disposal a wide range of skills and abilities, but also has the discretion and modesty to keep quiet about them until they're needed.
I immediately understood it as knowing what actions are refined and what aren't and acting accordingly.
I'll have to side with the OP on this one. A true modern gentleman (as opposed to a foppy and generally useless traditional gentleman) is one who is discreet and unassuming at all times, but who possesses a surprising variety of skills, both useful and trivial. A man who can play the bagpipes, but doesn't; a man who can change his own oil, but doesn't; a man who can shoot a pistol, but doesn't; a man who can build a computer, but doesn't.
In the confusion following a disaster, a gentleman will quietly roll up his surgeon-cuffed jacket sleeves and demonstrate the proper way to chop wood, followed immediately by the proper way to light a fire, followed immediately by the proper way to remove sweat and blood stains from a white Oxford cloth shirt, all without batting an eye.
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For reference see: The Sons of Katie Elder
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I always took this to mean that a gentleman is a fellow who has at his disposal a wide range of skills and abilities, but also has the discretion and modesty to keep quiet about them until they're needed.
I immediately understood it as knowing what actions are refined and what aren't and acting accordingly.
Reply
In the confusion following a disaster, a gentleman will quietly roll up his surgeon-cuffed jacket sleeves and demonstrate the proper way to chop wood, followed immediately by the proper way to light a fire, followed immediately by the proper way to remove sweat and blood stains from a white Oxford cloth shirt, all without batting an eye.
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