When I was growing up being called a classy person was a considerable compliment. While some associated the term with social stature or wealth, its most prevalent connotation was that, if you possessed class, you “had it all together.” You had the “whole package.” Everyone wanted to be referred to as a class act. We still should.
What is Class? It’s illusive to being simply defined, but surely it ranks as among those things we treasure most that money can’t buy. Things like Happiness, Inner-Peace, Integrity, Love, Character and Manners are class’s cohorts. Though, like many words that have been captured, tortured and even executed by today’s popular anti-culture movement, class is often accused of connotating a division between groups, i.e. those that have it versus those who don’t. That the word “class” may be used in a pejorative fashion, does not limit or diminish from its application as an apt description of a quality that all human beings, regardless of their station in life, should both admire and desire.
Ann Landers was the legendary pen name used by the syndicated advice columnist, Esther Pauline “Eppie” Lederer. For nearly half a century (1955-2002) the “Dear Ann Landers” column was where most Americans sought both advice and direction on a myriad of life’s twists and turns. I don’t know exactly when she originally wrote and published “Class,” but it has been a staple for those looking for one of the most cogent descriptions of what it means to have it.
Class never runs scared. It is sure-footed and confident in the knowledge that you can meet life head-on and handle whatever comes along.
Jacob had it. Esau didn’t. Symbolically, we can look to Jacob’s wrestling match with the angel. Those who have class have wrestled with their own personal “angel” and won a victory that marks them thereafter.
Class never makes excuses. It takes its lumps and learns from past mistakes.
Class is considerate of others. It knows that good manners are nothing more than a series of petty sacrifices.
Class bespeaks an aristocracy that has nothing to do with ancestors or money. The most affluent blueblood can be totally without class while the descendant of a Welsh miner may ooze class from every pore.
Class never tries to build itself up by tearing others down.
Class is already up and need not strive to look better by making others look worse.
Class can “walk with kings and keep its virtue, and talk with crowds and keep the common touch.” Everyone is comfortable with the person who has class – because he is comfortable with himself.
If you have class, you don’t need much of anything else. If you don’t have it. No matter what else you have – it doesn’t make much difference.
Character, honesty, loyalty, respect and unselfishness are all values synonymous with class. While our society and our psyche puts great store in measuring what things we acquire in our lives, the truest measure of a person’s wealth; the measure that stands the test of time, even eternity, is what kind of person we are as defined by these core values. Thomas Jefferson, one of our founding fathers and the author of the Declaration of Independence summed up Class quite well when he wrote:
In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current. Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give up the earth itself and all it contains, rather than do an immoral act. And never suppose, that in any possible situation, or under any circumstances, it is best for you to do a dishonorable thing. Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you and act accordingly…
Have an AWE-full weekend!
William “Bill” Bacque