“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 small sacrifices.
Class bespeaks an aristocracy that has nothing to do with ancestors or money. The most affluent blue blood 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.”
reprinted from Ann Landers Encyclopedia
In my last post I wrote about a woman with class. You may read more about her in another previous post “Lonely But Not Alone.”
I will write about how I came across this piece of wisdom in my next post.
Lovely post. Sadly, it’s my belief that there are fewer folks with class in today’s world than what I remember years ago.
Agreed, Dianna. And I will post Sunday about an original I had the pleasure of working with in the last millennium…figuratively, ages ago.
There’s an Ann Landers encyclopedia? How about that! Looking forward to reading more.
Thank you for reading. I will continue my thoughts on this on Sunday. I have never posted just a citation, but it’s the perfect preface to Sunday’s post for several reasons.
Beautiful! MJ
I’m glad you liked it. These words have stayed with me for over thirty years. I will post Part II on Sunday.
Great post. I so wholeheartedly agree. It seems class is a foreign word in today’s culture. I’m so tired of walking through a parking lot at the mall or wherever and having my ears assaulted, not to mention my mind, with vulgarities being screamed at people. No class. Thanks for giving me your thoughts on my post yesterday. We are definitely thinking on the same wavelengths. 🙂
I find class in the daily blogs I read. It is so hard to come by in the media. And excuses…I’m afraid “I’m Okay, You’re Okay” unleashed everything is Okay, hence fair to middlin’ or just mediocre.
After reading this list, one other thought comes to mind: class is timeless. It never goes out of style.
Here, here. This article by Ann Landers was used by a former leader in the organization I worked in thirty years ago. I still turn to it in the original hard copy newsletter that came out in our district. I will explain further in my post on Sunday.
This is truly wisdom – something I wish I could share on my FB page for all to read! Thanks for sharing, Georgette – you definitely have class. Love you!
I miss “Dear Abby” and her sister Ann Landers. Glad you like it.
I learned a lot about life reading those two columns as a teen. Can’t wait to hear the “rest of the story.”
We did learn a lot from those two wise women. What changed? Do kids grow up on books, the internet and movies now? Where’s the advice, the good old-fashioned common sense? My thoughts are with you on your progress with NNWM.
You’ve hooked me. Can’t wait to read more!
I will follow up Sunday evening on this two-parter. Thank you for reading. I did enjoy your post this week. Write when the message comes. This reader will follow.
I super like this post of yours!:) They say class can’t be bought. I’d say class is wisdom, discretion and graciousness rolled into one. I remember how my parents would often share some of these nuggets of wisdom while we were growing up.:)
Please follow up with the second part of this two parter on Sunday. The first part is a citation, but the second part will be personal writing from experiencing this rare quality. Thank you for visiting and commenting. I will be right over to visit you.
What a delight to see someone talking about it! I wonder why class is endangered in our times. Perhaps posts such as yours will help people realise it is time to come out of instant gratification of the senses. Thank you, Georgette.
I was so privileged to be surrounded by wise, wonderful people. I thank God for their inspiration. Thank you for visiting, reading and commenting.
“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.”
Every now and then , we encounter people with class and dignity. These people inspire us to be better. they are our role models of how we should act and behave. You are so right when you said that , “The most affluent blue blood can be totally without class while the descendant of a Welsh miner may ooze class from every pore.” i’ve met people who may be rich materially but has rude and inconsiderate attitude whereas, I met too people who may be poor materially but has a heart that is full of kindness.
Beautiful post. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes to you and your family.
This was something written by Ann Landers, a very popular columnist who answered letters from readers all over the country giving advice through her syndicated column. Her column lasted over 50 years. When our new leader reprinted this for staff employees it contributed to setting the tone in our district. Still when challenges come my way, I remember this piece. Thank you for reading and commenting. I hope your son is influenced by such leaders who have an impact on the classroom.
The timing of this post is serendipitous and convicting. Both this one and what is Class II. thank you!
PS do you mind if I repost part of it on my blog? DM
Thank you for asking. Yes, you may. If you place the link in your post, I look forward to reading what you write. In this age of attitude over courtesy, selfies over pointing the camera at others, I hope folks remember serving and respecting others.
[…] read something by another blogger this morning that she wrote just for me She talked about having class and wrestling with […]
Lovely —as I knew it would be. Thank you for leading me to this one!
This is the only post taken completely from another source. But I recognized it would be a good entré to the one I needed to write. Just writing the next one, remembering the impact that one individual had in keeping me on course helped me find my wind and rhythm. I was tickled by Lisa’s comment? “There’s an Ann Landers encyclopedia?” You may remember reading her. At a tender 10, 11, 12 I never missed her columns. It was a good pre-teen education. You may be familiar with “All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten”, well, Ann did it for me “All I Really Needed to Know as a Teenager, I Learned from Ann Landers.”