10 Unspoken Rules of Masculinity

What makes a modern gentleman?

When I first started this blog, I took a lot of inspiration from the Art of Manliness, by

Brett McKay

. I loved —and still do—, the aesthetics of his blog, and how it promoted a return to the lost art of being a gentleman.

A few weeks ago, I read a book titled “The Catholic Gentleman”, by Sam Guzman. The book details how to be a gentleman from a Catholic perspective, a topic which I think needs to be more widely discussed.

For that reason, I decided to write my two cents on this topic, and give you ten unspoken rules of masculinity that make a modern gentleman.

10. Keep your word, even when it hurts.

A gentleman is reliable. If you’re not keeping your word in the small promises, you can’t be trusted with the bigger ones. A man who breaks small promises is a man who gets used to betraying his word. He becomes unreliable, untrustworthy, and self-serving.

9. Stand up when you shake hands or great someone

This is a very simple lesson that a man whom I respected massively taught me. Standing up when you greet someone is a gesture that immediately dignifies the other person, makes them feel seen, recognized, and important. You shouldn’t do this to try and win someone over, but as a measure of basic respect for another human being.

8. Walk on the curb side when with a woman

Women want to feel safe when they’re with a man. It doesn’t matter if it’s your wife, girlfriend, mother or sister, intentionally walking on the curb side when you’re with them is a small, easy gesture that communicates an awareness of your role as a man, and a willingness to be on the side of danger for them. This is not only incredibly attractive for a woman you might be courting, but also, and most importantly, it’s the correct way to be as a man: protective, aware, and intentional with providing safety to the women in your life.

7. Pay your debts quickly and without reminders.

Nothing stains a man’s reputation faster than owing. There are few things worse than having to chase someone around to collect money they owe you. It’s incredibly disrespectful to forget your debts until someone comes to remind you of them. A debt is a promise, and failing to pay it willfully and in due time is failing to keep it.