The Real Greatness of Men

Show me the kind of man you honor and look up to and I know what values you place on you own manhood. For it shows me what your ideal of manhood is and what kind of man you want to become. There are so many kinds of men in the world and it is difficult to see the true value of a man. Ever find yourself thinking about how people see you or another man you really admire. Do they think this man is respected, loved and appreciated by his fellow man? The following is a quote from a great person who saw the real truth about men and what is most admirable in a man.

“A man is one whose body has been trained to be the ready servant of his mind; whose passions are trained to be the servants of his will; who enjoys the beautiful, loves truth, hates wrong, loves to do good and respects others as himself, and loves one woman and treats her with love and respect but never wavers from his responsibility to provide, protect and defend the rights of others to do the same. This type of man loves God first, his family second and his vocation third.” Emerson

The words that describe a person or the way they deal with life certainly leaves a definitive mark upon others. Those who watch and see what a man endures in his life time certainly defines the character of a man. Among those words people use to describe others, either for good or bad, tells the story of who or what impression the person has made or left behind. If men valued honesty and integrity first above any other trait they would leave a resounding impression on any who know them. If a man goes through life expecting applause for good deeds then his reward is short lived. The noise passes in the night and if the next performance isn’t worthy of applause, he will become disgruntled with life and others.

A ledger of a man does not tell what he is worth. Count what is in the man, not what he owns, if you would know what he is worth, see him as he really is, whether rich or poor. Good men are like fine wine they get better with age. Set straight the course one will follow to become the good man who sees not just the finish line but one who will stop and help another cross before him. Winning is not always winning the race, coming in first; but being first to help others along the race of life.

Men are not to be judged by their looks, habits, and appearances; but by the character of their lives and their conversations, and by their works. Tis better that a man’s own works than that another man’s words should praise him. Man is valued in this world as he shows by his conduct he wishes to be valued. To my fellow men it would behoove us to follow the words of Douglas Jerrold. “The superior man is he who develops in harmonious portions, his moral, intellectual, and physical nature. This should be the end at which men of all classes should aim, and is only that which constitutes real greatness.”

Robert D. Ashford was a Marine during the cold war and is now retired, after 50 years of construction management. He is a keen genealogist and loves humor. He watches the political horizons and likes to write commentary on what’s next.