"La prueba final de un caballero es su respeto por aquellos que no pueden serle de ningún servicio posible"
— H. L. Mencken
Simplified Meaning:
A true gentleman shows respect and kindness to everyone, not just to those who can help him or offer something in return. Think of a person who treats a waiter with the same courtesy as they would a CEO. It’s easy to be polite to someone who might give you a favor or help you in some way, but showing respect to people who can’t offer you anything in return reveals your true character. Being kind and respectful to everyone, regardless of their status or what they can do for you, is a sign of genuine decency and integrity. For example, a person who always greets and thanks the janitor at their workplace, even though the janitor’s role does not directly impact them, is showing true gentlemanly behavior. This idea encourages us to treat all people well, no matter their position or what they might give us, building a more respectful and humane society.
