True Manliness by James F. Clarke (A Powerful Speech for Young Men)

a false notion of manliness leads boys astray true manliness is humane it says we who are strong are to bear the infirmities of the weak its work is to protect those who cannot defend themselves to stand between the tyrant and the slave the oppressor and his victim it is identical in all times with the spirit of chivalry which led the good nights to wander in search of robbers giants and tyrannical lords those who oppressed the poor and robbed helpless women and orphans of their rights there are no tyrant barons now but the spirit of tyranny

and cruelty is still to be found the good night today is he who provides help for the blind the deaf and dumb the insane who defends animals from being cruelly treated rescues little children from bad usage and seeks to give working women their rights he protects all these sufferers from that false manliness which is brutal to the weak the true knights today are those who organize to prevent cruelty or to enforce laws against those who for a little gain make men drunkards the giants and dragons today are those cruelties and brutalities which use their power

to ill-treat those who are at their mercy true manliness is tender and loving false manliness cold and hard cynical and contemptuous the bravest and most heroic souls are usually the most loving garibaldi joseph mazzini the heroes of our times luther who never feared the face of man gustavus aldolphus and william of orange are examples of this union of courage and tenderness bold as lions in the defense of the right such men in their homes in their private life have a womanly gentleness [Music] false manliness is unfeeling with no kindly sympathies rude and rough and overbearing

true manliness is temperate it is moderate it exercises self-control it is capable of self-denial and renunciation false manliness is self-willed and self-indulgent [Music] [Music] you