Comments on: Manvotional: True and False Manliness http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/ Men's Interests and Lifestyle Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:32:07 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Laura http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-49536 Laura Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:25:21 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-49536 I just recently came upon this site because of a link to it through another site. But I have to say it is becoming one of my favorites. Kudos for this 'manvotional'. I'm seriously going to show this to all of the guys I know, because as a woman, this really does define what I personally (and I'm sure other women as well) see as being a true man and I find all of these traits very attractive. Thanks! I just recently came upon this site because of a link to it through another site. But I have to say it is becoming one of my favorites. Kudos for this ‘manvotional’. I’m seriously going to show this to all of the guys I know, because as a woman, this really does define what I personally (and I’m sure other women as well) see as being a true man and I find all of these traits very attractive. Thanks!

]]> By: Alex Chebykin http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-36749 Alex Chebykin Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:15:07 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-36749 Amazing body of work. The author has very easy prose. Although I think he is being a bit too idealistic in his definition of manliness, it places a very far-to-reach goal ahead of you to strive for, which is a good thing. Thanks again for a good read. Amazing body of work. The author has very easy prose. Although I think he is being a bit too idealistic in his definition of manliness, it places a very far-to-reach goal ahead of you to strive for, which is a good thing.

Thanks again for a good read.

]]> By: Manvotional: Manliness by John Brookes, Part I | The Art of Manliness http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-36660 Manvotional: Manliness by John Brookes, Part I | The Art of Manliness Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:33:18 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-36660 [...] What qualities and attributes constitute true manliness? It’s a hard question to answer. You know it when you see it, but it’s difficult to put a concept as big and varied as manliness into words, even for a guy who runs a blog on the topic. So I often like to peruse old books on the subject for insights on this question. Our forebearers were just as interested in the subject as we are, but they spent more time thinking about it. Thus, the wordsmiths of the past can often really nail it on the head. One of these men who effectively got to the heart of manliness was John Brookes, who 1875 authored a book aptly named Manliness. In the following excerpts, he discusses what he believes to be the defining characteristics of manliness. Next week, I’ll post Part 2, in which he discusses the results of living these virtues. For another excellent take on what constitutes true manliness, see here. [...] [...] What qualities and attributes constitute true manliness? It’s a hard question to answer. You know it when you see it, but it’s difficult to put a concept as big and varied as manliness into words, even for a guy who runs a blog on the topic. So I often like to peruse old books on the subject for insights on this question. Our forebearers were just as interested in the subject as we are, but they spent more time thinking about it. Thus, the wordsmiths of the past can often really nail it on the head. One of these men who effectively got to the heart of manliness was John Brookes, who 1875 authored a book aptly named Manliness. In the following excerpts, he discusses what he believes to be the defining characteristics of manliness. Next week, I’ll post Part 2, in which he discusses the results of living these virtues. For another excellent take on what constitutes true manliness, see here. [...]

]]> By: Shepherd’s Notes » What is True Manliness? http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-23245 Shepherd’s Notes » What is True Manliness? Mon, 02 Mar 2009 04:22:51 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-23245 [...] The following is taken from an essay written by James Freeman Clarke in 1886 on the topic of True and False Manliness. Thanks to the The Art of Manliness blog for turning me on to this essay. By manly qualities the world is carried forward. The manly spirit shows itself in enterprise, the love of meeting difficulties and overcoming them, — the resolution which will not yield, which patiently perseveres, and does not admit the possibility of defeat. It enjoys hard toil, rejoices in stern labor, is ready to make sacrifices, to suffer and bear disaster patiently. It is generous, giving itself to a good cause not its own ; it is public-spirited, devoting itself to the general good with no expectation of reward. It is ready to defend unpopular truth, to stand by those who are wronged, to uphold the weak. Having resolved, it does not go back, but holds on, through good report and evil, sure that the right must win at last. And so it causes truth to prevail, and keeps up the standard of a noble purpose in the world. But as most good things have their counterfeits, so there is false manliness which imitates these great qualities, though at heart it is without them. Instead of strength of will, it is only willful; in place of courage, it has audacity. True manliness does what it believes right; false manliness, does what it chooses to do. Freedom, to one, means following his own convictions of truth; to the other it means thinking as he pleases, and doing as he likes. The one is reverent, the other rude; one is courteous, the other overbearing ; one is brave, the other foolhardy; one is modest, the other self-asserting. False manliness is cynical, contemptuous, and tyrannical to inferiors. The true man has respect for all men, is tender to the sufferer, is modest and kind. The good type uses its strength to maintain good customs, to improve the social condition, to defend order. The other imagines it to be manly to defy law, to be independent of the opinions of the wise, to sneer at moral obligation, to consider itself superior to the established principles of mankind. All boys wish to be manly; but they often try to become so by copying the vices of men rather than their virtues. They see men drinking, smoking, swearing; so these poor little fellows sedulously imitate such bad habits, thinking they are making themselves more like men. They mistake rudeness for strength, disrespect to parents for independence. They read wretched stories about boy brigands and boy detectives, and fancy themselves heroes when they break the laws, and become troublesome and mischievous. Out of such false influences the criminal classes are recruited. Many a little boy who only wishes to be manly, becomes corrupted and debased by the bad examples around him and the bad literature which he reads. The cure for this is to give him good books that show him truly noble examples from life and history, and make him understand how infinitely above this mock-manliness is the true courage which ennobles human nature. You can find the rest of the article here. [...] [...] The following is taken from an essay written by James Freeman Clarke in 1886 on the topic of True and False Manliness. Thanks to the The Art of Manliness blog for turning me on to this essay. By manly qualities the world is carried forward. The manly spirit shows itself in enterprise, the love of meeting difficulties and overcoming them, — the resolution which will not yield, which patiently perseveres, and does not admit the possibility of defeat. It enjoys hard toil, rejoices in stern labor, is ready to make sacrifices, to suffer and bear disaster patiently. It is generous, giving itself to a good cause not its own ; it is public-spirited, devoting itself to the general good with no expectation of reward. It is ready to defend unpopular truth, to stand by those who are wronged, to uphold the weak. Having resolved, it does not go back, but holds on, through good report and evil, sure that the right must win at last. And so it causes truth to prevail, and keeps up the standard of a noble purpose in the world. But as most good things have their counterfeits, so there is false manliness which imitates these great qualities, though at heart it is without them. Instead of strength of will, it is only willful; in place of courage, it has audacity. True manliness does what it believes right; false manliness, does what it chooses to do. Freedom, to one, means following his own convictions of truth; to the other it means thinking as he pleases, and doing as he likes. The one is reverent, the other rude; one is courteous, the other overbearing ; one is brave, the other foolhardy; one is modest, the other self-asserting. False manliness is cynical, contemptuous, and tyrannical to inferiors. The true man has respect for all men, is tender to the sufferer, is modest and kind. The good type uses its strength to maintain good customs, to improve the social condition, to defend order. The other imagines it to be manly to defy law, to be independent of the opinions of the wise, to sneer at moral obligation, to consider itself superior to the established principles of mankind. All boys wish to be manly; but they often try to become so by copying the vices of men rather than their virtues. They see men drinking, smoking, swearing; so these poor little fellows sedulously imitate such bad habits, thinking they are making themselves more like men. They mistake rudeness for strength, disrespect to parents for independence. They read wretched stories about boy brigands and boy detectives, and fancy themselves heroes when they break the laws, and become troublesome and mischievous. Out of such false influences the criminal classes are recruited. Many a little boy who only wishes to be manly, becomes corrupted and debased by the bad examples around him and the bad literature which he reads. The cure for this is to give him good books that show him truly noble examples from life and history, and make him understand how infinitely above this mock-manliness is the true courage which ennobles human nature. You can find the rest of the article here. [...]

]]> By: Ian http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-21411 Ian Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:38:51 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-21411 Great article. Even if someone knows these things, it's great to have them reaffirmed by reading another man's perspective. I, however, found many new delightful phrases and quotes in this article and wish I could find a piece like this to replace every negative, cynical and horrific news article I have read over the years. Keep it up. Great article. Even if someone knows these things, it’s great to have them reaffirmed by reading another man’s perspective. I, however, found many new delightful phrases and quotes in this article and wish I could find a piece like this to replace every negative, cynical and horrific news article I have read over the years.

Keep it up.

]]> By: Virilitas http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-21350 Virilitas Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:17:32 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-21350 Clarke is right that it's very important to give our boys good books to read and to keep them away from bad books. I daresay, most boys today hardly read at all; instead, their parents let them spend much time watching all sorts of television shows that undermine strong, giving, and authentic manliness. PS-- Most of Clarke's comments are great until he starts to give examples of <i>brave but loving</i> manliness: Luther, Gustavus-Adolphus, and William of Orange????? Let's just say that it's a good thing old Clarke didn't write this in Ireland. ;D Clarke is right that it’s very important to give our boys good books to read and to keep them away from bad books. I daresay, most boys today hardly read at all; instead, their parents let them spend much time watching all sorts of television shows that undermine strong, giving, and authentic manliness.

PS– Most of Clarke’s comments are great until he starts to give examples of brave but loving manliness: Luther, Gustavus-Adolphus, and William of Orange????? Let’s just say that it’s a good thing old Clarke didn’t write this in Ireland. ;D

]]> By: Tankfarm Blog » Blog Archive » True & False Manliness http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-21202 Tankfarm Blog » Blog Archive » True & False Manliness Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:45:58 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-21202 [...] a part of it below. The rest can be found at the art of manliness. [...] [...] a part of it below. The rest can be found at the art of manliness. [...]

]]> By: Bill http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-21200 Bill Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:19:55 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-21200 @Brucifer, your point is well-taken about some sports figures being poor examples of manliness. However, Clarke's omission has more to do with the fact that professional sports as we know them today didn't exist back in Clarke's time -- American football had been invented only a decade prior to this essay, and basketball wouldn't be invented for another five. For all we know, the author would've been cheering for the Cowboys every Sunday (excluding Terrell Owens and Pacman Jones, of course). @Brucifer, your point is well-taken about some sports figures being poor examples of manliness. However, Clarke’s omission has more to do with the fact that professional sports as we know them today didn’t exist back in Clarke’s time — American football had been invented only a decade prior to this essay, and basketball wouldn’t be invented for another five. For all we know, the author would’ve been cheering for the Cowboys every Sunday (excluding Terrell Owens and Pacman Jones, of course).

]]> By: Kevin (ReturnToManliness) http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-21056 Kevin (ReturnToManliness) Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:53:51 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-21056 Excellent post and great comments from the gentleman so long ago. Not much should have changed from all the time ago, but so much has. The hard part of getting a lot of guys to buy into the incredibly good message in today's society, is that many younger guys either can't relate to this or simply don't want to. There are some fella's here that get it and appreciate it, but the majority don't or won't. For instance, the idea of "cowardice" and "not defending." Great concept and is certainly core to manliness, but times are different (<a href="http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20090101_Iraq_veteran_held_for_trial_in_movie_theater_shooting.html" rel="nofollow">movie theater shooting</a>.) Excellent post and great comments from the gentleman so long ago. Not much should have changed from all the time ago, but so much has. The hard part of getting a lot of guys to buy into the incredibly good message in today’s society, is that many younger guys either can’t relate to this or simply don’t want to. There are some fella’s here that get it and appreciate it, but the majority don’t or won’t.

For instance, the idea of “cowardice” and “not defending.” Great concept and is certainly core to manliness, but times are different (movie theater shooting.)

]]> By: Rodney Hampton http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-21017 Rodney Hampton Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:16:46 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-21017 Excellent post. As usual, I feel that I was born in the wrong time. Then again, looking at the rising subscription number, I think there may actually be a Manaissance in the works. Excellent post. As usual, I feel that I was born in the wrong time. Then again, looking at the rising subscription number, I think there may actually be a Manaissance in the works.

]]> By: Harland http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-21016 Harland Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:03:37 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-21016 Brucifer - I agree with your comment about sports heroes. What a poor choice for what has become idolitry. Policiticians are a fairly poor choice. I believe more and more it is important to find heroes locally - those men who day in and day out live these ideals. It reminds me to reach out actively to young men and show them a little bit of a better example. Harland Brucifer – I agree with your comment about sports heroes. What a poor choice for what has become idolitry. Policiticians are a fairly poor choice.
I believe more and more it is important to find heroes locally – those men who day in and day out live these ideals. It reminds me to reach out actively to young men and show them a little bit of a better example.
Harland

]]> By: Russ http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-21012 Russ Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:02:19 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-21012 I love America and I believe in every word that this essay speaks. I have subscribed to this site and love getting the emails. Thank you for putting such great content on this site! I feel that I am doing my best on my own in living as a younger man at 25. It seems so confusing sometimes and hard. Thanks for the inspiration! I love America and I believe in every word that this essay speaks. I have subscribed to this site and love getting the emails.

Thank you for putting such great content on this site!

I feel that I am doing my best on my own in living as a younger man at 25. It seems so confusing sometimes and hard. Thanks for the inspiration!

]]> By: Walter http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-21011 Walter Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:18:20 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-21011 Amen, and amen! This should be required reading for all men and boys in the country. Amen, and amen! This should be required reading for all men and boys in the country.

]]> By: Brucifer http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-21010 Brucifer Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:36:55 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-21010 What I find very telling is that in citing examples of heroes, Clarke never mentions sports figures. The bane of modern manliness is that moronic sports jocks are all our society seems to want to point to as far as heros.... and they are piss-poor heros at that. What do they *really* contribute to society? Nothing. If anything, they degrade society by their boorish behavior and sidetrack far too many men into watching them for hours and hours, instead of getting off their butts and out doing things for the good of the community. In Clarke's time, men WERE different. What I find very telling is that in citing examples of heroes, Clarke never mentions sports figures. The bane of modern manliness is that moronic sports jocks are all our society seems to want to point to as far as heros…. and they are piss-poor heros at that. What do they *really* contribute to society? Nothing. If anything, they degrade society by their boorish behavior and sidetrack far too many men into watching them for hours and hours, instead of getting off their butts and out doing things for the good of the community. In Clarke’s time, men WERE different.

]]> By: C_Hearn http://artofmanliness.com/2009/01/04/manvotional-true-and-false-manliness/comment-page-1/#comment-21008 C_Hearn Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:11:44 +0000 http://artofmanliness.com/?p=1399#comment-21008 Thank you so much. I have never heard such a succinct and proper explanation of manhood in all my searching. Thank you so much. God bless you. Thank you so much. I have never heard such a succinct and proper explanation of manhood in all my searching. Thank you so much. God bless you.

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