Honour | ||
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Deserving
An honourable person is judged according to the quality of their
relationship with the
world.
They earn their respect through right behaviour, through conscience and
compassion.
Honour cannot be bestowed - a title or accolade is meaningless.
Grit
It takes courage to live an honourable
life, to be mindful of others and considerate.
Across the centuries there have been codes of conduct followed by
martial artists - designed to define and
regulate honourable behaviour.
Conduct
Central to the idea of honour is conduct.
Your behaviour defines you, your deeds are a
testimony to the sort of person you are.
They reveal your true nature, your
character.
Words are empty
Words are worthless unless they are a
reflection of your conduct.
A person may speak of honour and righteousness but live a life of
deceit and brutality.
Honour must be earned through the example of your
deeds.
Chivalry
'Chivalry' means that you show courtesy, respect and
considerate behaviour towards those that
are weaker than you.
Charlemagne included these duties in his code of chivalry:
To protect the weak and defenceless
To give succour to widows and orphans
To refrain from the wanton giving of offence
To live by honour
To despise pecuniary (monetary) reward
To fight for the welfare of all
To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit
To keep faith
At all times to speak the truth
To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun
The Order of the
Golden Fleece defined a knights virtues as being: faith, charity,
justice, sagacity (sound judgement), prudence, temperance, resolution,
truth, liberality, diligence,
hope and valour.
Pride
Pride has nothing to do with honour; it is a
conceit.
Vanity, egotism
and self-importance are not honourable, for they serve only the individual.
Honour is not a display; it is not contrived behaviour designed to attract
approval.
Essence
The outward show is not the substance.
Honour is intrinsic. How you are and who you are stems from your capacity
to behave with honour.
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Page
created 5 August 1995
Last updated
04 May 2023
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