18th Century Philosophy Gets Your Wife Wet

Edmund Burke in “The Character of a Fine Gentleman:”

It is almost impossible for any man to be a fine Gentleman, who has not courage. But as such a Character is not ostentatious or affected, it is equally Essential to it to conceal this Quality. It is only to appear in a composure, formed by a confidence a man finds in himself, that he is able to prevent being disturbed in his own Course by the insolence or brutality of others. The whole Circle of Taste must be open to him; but the affected parts, the Cant of a dealer in pictures, or the Chimeras of a Virtuoso never make their appearance. Such a Character goes through Life with great Smoothness. He is praised by everybody; respected, esteemed, courted, and everything but really Loved.

I am not sure as to this last point; for he receives all the marks of Love, except the disagreeable one[s] that arise in Close intimacies, when men are undisguised and unrestrained, and give their Tempers a loose in all humours.

Before gentleman became a pejorative, a codeword for capitulating beta, men could behave as Burke suggested and still be considered men. Moreover, they were the height of manhood, a pinnacle to be achieved through development of innate male proclivities. Sure, they engaged in the manners and niceties of the time, but they were in charge, resolute, brave and not given to emotional outbursts. Such behavior balanced the more masculine alpha characteristics with the more caring beta provider characteristics. Such balance created the foundation for a stable, productive society.

Furthermore, notice Burke’s admonition against unrestrained reactions in matters of love. Burke, in the middle 18th Century, was warning against failing shit tests!

Though a religious man who is considered the father of modern conservatism, Burke was not an emasculated social conservative who pedestalized women over men. Nor did he encourage in other men emasculation or behaviors that run contrary to the essence of manhood. Earlier in the same essay he states:

To be libertine in his practices and opinions is another part of his Character; but he is not a debauchee; ’tis only so much as it may make him entirely a man of the world. In point of Gallantry he is no way scrupulous. The greatest liberty in his actions, and the greatest decency in his discourse are his Character in that point.

You read that correctly. The father of conservatism is endorsing a little libertine behavior and subjective gallantry. Don’t confine yourself to a rigid ascetic existence; don’t open the door for every trollop you see. Live life well and reserve your magnanimity. Be mysterious, be worldly, arm yourself with the tools to hold court in every situation you encounter.

For the modern man who still believes in that antiquated notion that his home is his castle, Burke’s advice is instructional. For the modern man who expects his wife to remain delightfully wet, his advice is beautiful. Manliness is manliness. Manliness is timeless. Don’t let the invading hordes, whose only aim is to destroy the foundation of civilization, tell you otherwise.