--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a grand old name, that of…" description: "\"It is a grand old name, that of gentleman, and has been recognized as a rank and power in all stages of society. To possess this character is a dignity..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01d/samuel-smiles-2037_bows_it-is-a-grand-old-name-that-of-gentleman_165303.jpg" --- # It is a grand old name, that of gentleman, and has been… ![“It is a grand old name, that of gentleman, and has been recognized as a rank and power in all stages of society. To possess this character is a dignity of itself, commanding the instinctive homage of every generous mind, and those who will not bow to titular rank will yet do homage to the…” quote by Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01d/samuel-smiles-2037_bows_it-is-a-grand-old-name-that-of-gentleman_165303.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01d/samuel-smiles-2037_bows_it-is-a-grand-old-name-that-of-gentleman_165303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01d/samuel-smiles-2037_bows_it-is-a-grand-old-name-that-of-gentleman_165303.jpg) > “It is a grand old name, that of gentleman, and has been recognized as a rank and power in all stages of society. To possess this character is a dignity of itself, commanding the instinctive homage of every generous mind, and those who will not bow to titular rank will yet do homage to the gentleman. His qualities depend not upon fashion or manners, but upon moral worth; not on personal possessions, but on personal qualities.” [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that true gentlemanliness stems from moral character, not titles or wealth, earning respect through personal virtue. **In simple terms:** Being a gentleman means having moral worth, not status. Key Takeaway Cultivate integrity over image. Themes character respect virtue social status morality Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - leadership - community building - personal development - social interactions Key Concepts ethical integrity personal merit social perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you demonstrate gentlemanly qualities daily? - Can status be earned without moral substance? A Different Perspective Respect may still be influenced by external symbols despite moral claims. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bows/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-dignity-285908/) [Depends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depends/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Gentleman Qualities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman-qualities-1803196/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Homage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homage/) [Homage Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homage-gentleman-1803197/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Personal qualities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-qualities/) [Possess Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possess-character-383346/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) ## Related quotes > [“Character gains through its expression, and loses through its repression. 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The trouble with the damn system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-hogan/the-personal-qualities-necessary-for-attaining-office-are-practically/) [James P. Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-hogan/) > [“Nature of the Desire for Change: There is in us a tendency to locate the shaping forces of our existence outside ourselves. Success and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/nature-of-the-desire-for-change-there-is-in-us-a-tendency-to-locate/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“Strategic personal qualities you can base your self-confidence on are those which are interesting for all mankind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rossana-condoleo/strategic-personal-qualities-you-can-base-your-self-confidence-on-are/) [Rossana Condoleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rossana-condoleo/) > [Nothing endures but personal qualities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/nothing-endures-but-personal-qualities/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Most men fail, not through lack of education or agreeable personal qualities, but from lack of dogged determination, from lack of dauntless will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/most-men-fail-not-through-lack-of-education-or-agreeable-personal/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [“The cheapest sort of pride is national pride; for if a man is proud of his own nation, it argues that he has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/the-cheapest-sort-of-pride-is-national-pride-for-if-a-man-is-proud-of/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) ## More by Samuel Smiles > [Biographies of great, but especially of good men are most instructive and useful as helps, guides, and incentives to others. Some of the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/biographies-of-great-but-especially-of-good-men-are-most-instructive/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Diligence, above all, is the mother of good luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/diligence-above-all-is-the-mother-of-good-luck/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The women of the poorer classes make sacrifices, and run risks, and bear privations, and exercise patience and kindness to a degree that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-women-of-the-poorer-classes-make-sacrifices-and-run-risks-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Self-respect is the noblest garment with which a man can clothe himself, the most elevating feeling with which the mind can be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/self-respect-is-the-noblest-garment-with-which-a-man-can-clothe/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The experience gathered from books, though often valuable, is but of the nature of learning; whereas, the experience gained from actual life is of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-experience-gathered-from-books-though-often-valuable-is-but-of/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one-which-the-greatest-of-men/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual; and, exhibited in the lives of many, it constitutes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-spirit-of-self-help-is-the-root-of-all-genuine-growth-in-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The wise man... if he would live at peace with others, he will bear and forbear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-wise-man-if-he-would-live-at-peace-with-others-he-will-bear-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Those who are the most persistent, and work in the true spirit, will invariably be the most successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/those-who-are-the-most-persistent-and-work-in-the-true-spirit-will/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The iron rail proved a magicians' road. It virtually reduced England to a sixth of its size. It brought the country nearer to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-iron-rail-proved-a-magicians-road-it-virtually-reduced-england-to/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [This extraordinary metal, the soul of every manufacture, and the mainspring perhaps of civilised society. Of iron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/this-extraordinary-metal-the-soul-of-every-manufacture-and-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Man cannot aspire if he looked down; if he rise, he must look up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/man-cannot-aspire-if-he-looked-down-if-he-rise-he-must-look-up/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The life of a good man is at the same time the most eloquent lesson of virtue and the most severe reproof of vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-life-of-a-good-man-is-at-the-same-time-the-most-eloquent-lesson/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [“Many are the lives of men unwritten, which have nevertheless as powerfully influenced civilization and progress as the more fortunate Great whose names are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/many-are-the-lives-of-men-unwritten-which-have-nevertheless-as/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Labour may be a burden and a chastisement, but it is also an honour and a glory. Without it, nothing can be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/labour-may-be-a-burden-and-a-chastisement-but-it-is-also-an-honour/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) [Explore all 189 Samuel Smiles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## More Bows quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I with borrow'd silver shine, What you see is none of mine. 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Even when you make strides with people and relationships, it's complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-tveit/things-don-t-always-tie-up-in-a-nice-bow-even-when-you-make-strides/) [Aaron Tveit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-tveit/) > [I pray everywhere--in the shower, on a plane, in traffic, you name it. When I feel like I have had enough, I will literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-harmon/i-pray-everywhere-in-the-shower-on-a-plane-in-traffic-you-name-it/) [Angie Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-harmon/) [Browse all 739 Bows quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bows/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is a grand old name, that of gentleman, and has been recognized as a rank and power in all stages of society. 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