--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no man that can teach us to be…" description: "\"There is no man that can teach us to be gentlemen better than Joseph Addison.\" — William Makepeace Thackeray" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_gentleman_there-is-no-man-that-can-teach-us-to-be_1959497.jpg" --- # There is no man that can teach us to be gentlemen better… ![“There is no man that can teach us to be gentlemen better than Joseph Addison.” quote by William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_gentleman_there-is-no-man-that-can-teach-us-to-be_1959497.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_gentleman_there-is-no-man-that-can-teach-us-to-be_1959497.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_gentleman_there-is-no-man-that-can-teach-us-to-be_1959497.jpg) > “There is no man that can teach us to be gentlemen better than Joseph Addison.” [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The best way to learn proper conduct is by observing the exemplary behavior of others, especially those like Joseph Addison. **In simple terms:** Learn etiquette from great role models. Key Takeaway Seek mentors who embody desired virtues. Themes education etiquette role models Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - school - professional networking - family gatherings - online communities Key Concepts social learning virtue signaling Questions to Reflect On - Who exemplifies the qualities you wish to develop? - How can you emulate virtues without direct mentorship? A Different Perspective Mentors may not be universally accessible or may have flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-joseph-3226495/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Gentlemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentlemen/) [Gentlemen Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentlemen-better-3226494/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joseph-addison-223866/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Gentlemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-gentlemen-3226493/) ## Related quotes > [Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heisman/gentlemen-it-is-better-to-have-died-as-a-small-boy-than-to-fumble/) [John Heisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heisman/) > [“Writing again, he stressed that the events of war are always uncertain. Then, paraphrasing a favorite line from the popular play Cato by Joseph…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/writing-again-he-stressed-that-the-events-of-war-are-always-uncertain/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A gentleman, is a rarer thing than some of us think for. Which of us can point out many such in his circle--men whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/a-gentleman-is-a-rarer-thing-than-some-of-us-think-for-which-of-us/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Nobody can say a word against Greek: it stamps a man at once as an educated gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/nobody-can-say-a-word-against-greek-it-stamps-a-man-at-once-as-an/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [ We had a guy, a gentlemen by the name of Mr. Greenleaf who lived behind the house we were shooting \[Fences\], and he was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/we-had-a-guy-a-gentlemen-by-the-name-of-mr-greenleaf-who-lived-behind/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Gentlemen have talked a great deal of patriotism. A venerable word, when duly practiced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-walpole/gentlemen-have-talked-a-great-deal-of-patriotism-a-venerable-word/) [Robert Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-walpole/) > [Well, gentlemen, life's just one damn thing after another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dustin-archbold/well-gentlemen-life-s-just-one-damn-thing-after-another/) [John Dustin Archbold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dustin-archbold/) > [And now, gentlemen, like your manners, I must leave you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/and-now-gentlemen-like-your-manners-i-must-leave-you/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [“Gentlemen always walk ladies home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriellyn-gidman/gentlemen-always-walk-ladies-home/) [Gabriellyn Gidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriellyn-gidman/) > [Gentlemen and maidens in this general vicinity, how doth it go?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-killings/gentlemen-and-maidens-in-this-general-vicinity-how-doth-it-go/) [Ron Killings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-killings/) > [Being male is a matter of birth, being a man is a matter of age, but being a gentlemen is a matter of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-male-is-a-matter-of-birth-being-a-man-is-a-matter-of-age-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Smile, but not for long, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Patriarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-kaplan/smile-but-not-for-long-ladies-and-gentlemen-of-the-patriarchy/) [Nelly Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-kaplan/) > [The Perfect Gentleman~~~\| ¢ Gives Her One of His T-Shirts to Sleep In, ¢ Give Her One of His Hobbies; To Wear so everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-perfect-gentleman-gives-her-one-of-his-t-shirts-to-sleep-in-give/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Gentlemen prefer blondes, but take what they can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-herold/gentlemen-prefer-blondes-but-take-what-they-can-get/) [Don Herold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-herold/) > [Books, gentlemen, are a species of men, and introduced to them you circulate in the "very best society" that this world can furnish, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/books-gentlemen-are-a-species-of-men-and-introduced-to-them-you/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More by William Makepeace Thackeray > [“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-those-great-geniuses-now-in-petticoats-who-shall-write-novels-for/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [As nature made every man with a nose and eyes of his own, she gave him a character of his own, too; and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/as-nature-made-every-man-with-a-nose-and-eyes-of-his-own-she-gave-him/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [It is best to love wisely, no doubt; but to love foolishly is better than not to be able to love at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/it-is-best-to-love-wisely-no-doubt-but-to-love-foolishly-is-better/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Diffidence is a sort of false modesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/diffidence-is-a-sort-of-false-modesty/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Our great thoughts, our great affections, the truths of our life, never leave us. Surely they can not separate from our consciousness, shall follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/our-great-thoughts-our-great-affections-the-truths-of-our-life-never/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Charming Alnaschar visions! it is the happy privilege of youth to construct you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/charming-alnaschar-visions-it-is-the-happy-privilege-of-youth-to/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [To see a young couple loving each other is no wonder; but to see an old couple loving each other is the best sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-see-a-young-couple-loving-each-other-is-no-wonder-but-to-see-an/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [An immense percentage of snobs, I believe, is to be found in every rank of this mortal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/an-immense-percentage-of-snobs-i-believe-is-to-be-found-in-every-rank/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Vanity is often the unseen spur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-is-often-the-unseen-spur/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [A good laugh is sunshine in the house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/a-good-laugh-is-sunshine-in-the-house/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Novelty has charms that our minds can hardly withstand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/novelty-has-charms-that-our-minds-can-hardly-withstand/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [“Picture to yourself, O fair young reader, a worldly, selfish, graceless, thankless, religionless old woman, writhing in pain and fear, and without her wig.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/picture-to-yourself-o-fair-young-reader-a-worldly-selfish-graceless/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Certain opuscules, denominated 'Christmas Books,' with the ostensible intention of swelling the tide of exhilaration, or other expansive emotions, incident upon the exodus of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/certain-opuscules-denominated-christmas-books-with-the-ostensible/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) [Explore all 384 William Makepeace Thackeray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) ## More Gentleman quotes > [“Like this, Rook.” Ford’s soft words vibrate into me. “I like you. I’d like to show you how much, actually. I’m being a gentleman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-huss/like-this-rook-ford-s-soft-words-vibrate-into-me-i-like-you-i-d-like/) [J.A. Huss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-huss/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Call me old-fashioned, but whenever I see those wire-fortified ribbons, I have the secret stab of nostalgia for old-timey ribbon, the kind whose ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/call-me-old-fashioned-but-whenever-i-see-those-wire-fortified-ribbons/) [Rhoda Janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Brothers all In honour, as in one community, Scholars and gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/brothers-all-in-honour-as-in-one-community-scholars-and-gentlemen/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [I like to be bought flowers and taken out for dinner. I like a man to be a gentleman. I don't like to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/i-like-to-be-bought-flowers-and-taken-out-for-dinner-i-like-a-man-to/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [A gentleman is not born but crafted. He had to work on himself in the same way as a sculptor shaped a rough stone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/a-gentleman-is-not-born-but-crafted-he-had-to-work-on-himself-in-the/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [I'm old school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-old-school/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some Iranian doctors from Europe and America go to Iran and operate for free or teach medical students there. The other day, I met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-diba/some-iranian-doctors-from-europe-and-america-go-to-iran-and-operate/) [Farah Diba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-diba/) > [I'm an old-fashioned girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chita-rivera/i-m-an-old-fashioned-girl/) [Chita Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chita-rivera/) > [I am a bit old-school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-kay/i-am-a-bit-old-school/) [Jay Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-kay/) > [What's wrong with death sir? What are we so mortally afraid of? Why can't we treat death with a certain amount of humanity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/what-s-wrong-with-death-sir-what-are-we-so-mortally-afraid-of-why-can/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [The president of the United States of North America, George W. Bush, the little gentleman of the North, the political cadaver that is visiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/the-president-of-the-united-states-of-north-america-george-w-bush-the/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/) > [Acknowledge yourself, man up along age and then decide to be a gentleman or an another asshole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniyal-butt/acknowledge-yourself-man-up-along-age-and-then-decide-to-be-a/) [Daniyal Butt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniyal-butt/) > [It is possible that blondes also prefer gentleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamie-van-doren/it-is-possible-that-blondes-also-prefer-gentleman/) [Mamie Van Doren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamie-van-doren/) [Browse all 1,653 Gentleman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no man that can teach us to be gentlemen better than Joseph Addison.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Makepeace Thackeray" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/there-is-no-man-that-can-teach-us-to-be-gentlemen-better-than-joseph/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gentleman" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/there-is-no-man-that-can-teach-us-to-be-gentlemen-better-than-joseph/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_gentleman_there-is-no-man-that-can-teach-us-to-be_1959497.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_gentleman_there-is-no-man-that-can-teach-us-to-be_1959497.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_gentleman_there-is-no-man-that-can-teach-us-to-be_1959497.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is no man that can teach us to be gentlemen better than Joseph Addison.” — William Makepeace Thackeray", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William Makepeace Thackeray", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is no man that can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/there-is-no-man-that-can-teach-us-to-be-gentlemen-better-than-joseph/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/there-is-no-man-that-can-teach-us-to-be-gentlemen-better-than-joseph/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```