October 12th, 2007
I have a boyhood fascination with all things medivil. Perhaps nothing catches the imagination of a boy more then the life of a knight. The following 10 characteristics are taken directly from the creeds and vows that a knight would have to take before being sworn in.
1. Prowess: To seek excellence in all endeavors expected of a knight, martial and otherwise, seeking strength to be used in the service of justice, rather than in personal aggrandizement.
2. Justice: Seek always the path of right, unencumbered by bias or personal interest. If the right you see rings true with others, and you seek it out without bending to the temptation for expediency, then you will earn renown beyond measure.
3. Loyalty: Be known for unwavering commitment to the people and ideals you choose to live by. There are many places where compromise is expected; loyalty is not amongst them.
4. Honesty: A knight holds himself to the highest standard of behavior. Honesty and Honor are and always have been tied together with bonds that cannot be broken. Most importantly, a knight should always be Honest with himself and not let excuses or wishes color his beliefs.
5. Courage: Being a knight often means choosing the more difficult path, often the personally expensive one. At the same time, a knight should seek wisdom to see that stupidity and courage are cousins.
6. Faith: A knight must have faith in his beliefs, for faith roots him and gives hope against the despair that human failings create.
7. Humility: Value first the contributions of others; do not boast of your own accomplishments, let others do this for you. Tell the deeds of others before your own, according them the renown rightfully earned through virtuous deeds.
8. Largesse: Be generous in so far as your resources allow; largesse used in this way counters gluttony. It also makes the path of mercy easier to discern when a difficult decision of justice is required.
9. Nobility: Seek great stature of character by holding to the virtues and duties of a knight, realizing that though the ideals cannot be reached, the quality of striving towards them ennobles the spirit, growing the character from dust towards the heavens.
10. Franchise: Seek to emulate everything spoken of as sincerely as possible, not for the reason of personal gain but because it is right. Do not restrict your exploration to a small world, but seek to infuse every aspect of your life with these qualities. Should you succeed in even a tiny measure then you will be well remembered for your quality and virtue.
The basic summation of these 10 principles is the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I could spend a lifetime putting these things into practice.
1. 10 characteristics of a knight adapted from Bruderhorf.com Daily Dig E-mail Article September 18th, 2004.
