"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.

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 inheritance. The most affluent blue-blood can be totally without class while a descendant of a miner may ooze class from every pore.

Class never tries to build up itself by tearing others down.

Class is already up and need not strive to look better by making others look worse.

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." 

The Top 10 Things Classy People Do That Show You They Have Class

1. Emotional Intelligence is their artillery. Nothing else.

As Frederick the Great, King of Germany, said, "Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl." Classy people have emotional intelligence and use it to keep anything from turning into an ugly brawl. Ever. For any reason.

2. They don't "air their dirty linen in public."

Personal concerns and feelings are kept private, aired only when appropriate, which is practically never "in public".

3. They are confident.

This has nothing to do with money, it has to do with personal power -- knowing who you are, and being proud of it because you have values and integrity, and are authentic. A value is "treating others with respect." Integrity is actually treating people with respect. When no one's watching. When it's the maid who comes in the office late at night.

4. They have good taste.

This, too, has nothing to do with money. Many people who have lots of money have no taste. Taste is about what is sensually pleasing -- to the eyes, the nose, the ears, the senses – not jarring. It is in poor taste to talk so loud you disturb the people in the cubicle next to you, or to bring a cell phone on a date. It is in poor taste to appear with spinach in your teeth, or to wear cologne to a concert, or to not know the name of your secretary’s husband. It is in poor taste to assault people's senses in any way -- with your language, the art on your walls, or with handwriting that someone can't read.
This includes using swear words sparingly, and covering body parts. They do not make a spectacle of themselves. It is not classy to show cleavage, chest hairs, or anything else that shouts "LOOK AT ME." Their clothing is modest, understated and classic, though it can be a $1000 suit.
Their study of the great arts, painting, classical music, opera, and sculpture has given them refined tastes. The arts teach perspective, tolerance, history, patience, culture, a sense of color and line, spirituality and emotional intelligence.

See our Club Vivo Per Lei / I Live for Music to learn more.

5. They do not bore you.

A person with class always has interests, so they have interesting things to say, though they never monopolize the conversation. In fact, he'll be the first to ask you how you liked the speaker, not force his opinion on you. They know how to subtly include everyone present. However, you'd rather hear them talk than anyone else because they aren't boring.

6. They are sensitive.

People with class are aware that other people have feelings, just as they do, and they care. The reason they take off their shoes at the door is not because it's a rule, but because they don't want to track mud on your carpet. The reason they do not ask you at the club meeting about your son who died, is because they know you would rather not break down in public. They ask you about your new baby, because they know it matters to you. They lower their voice at a funeral, because others are in mourning. The reason they don't ever chastise people in public is because it's demeaning and rude. They can manage their own emotions and have no need to "show off" in front of others. It is painful to be criticized, and so they do it judiciously, and in private.

7. They are gracious.

Coming from abundance, they are gracious about sharing what they have. They pass the butter first at the table and offer the last piece of steak to the person on their right. When they are led to a table for two, and one of the chairs faces the wall and the other faces a gorgeous view of the ocean, they give the other person the view of the ocean. When things go well, they compliment others. When things go poorly, they take the blame themselves. When someone else makes a faux pas in public, they cover for them ("Susan's on top of things. I'm sure it's out in her car. We'll get it to you later."). Their goal is not to have other people feel uncomfortable in their presence.

8. They are responsible, respectful of other people's time and attention.

A person with class shows up when she says she will, and respects your time. If you have granted her an hour's appointment, she will glance surreptitiously at her watch from time-to-time, and when it's 10 minutes to the hour she will politely start to wrap up the conversation, rise to her feet, hold out her hand and thank you for your time. She will have left by 5 minutes to the hour, giving you time to prepare for your next appointment. A classy person is thoughtful.

9. They say "please" and "sir" and "excuse me". They open doors for women, and thank gentlemen who hold out the chair for them.

Classy people don't take etiquette for granted. They know it greases the wheel of social interaction. It shows respect for them, and for others, slows things down, and feels good. They know that other people like to be acknowledged and appreciated so they say "thank you".

10. They don't follow the crowd, adopt fads, or change to please someone else.

Classy people understand that fads are just that -- they will come and go. People who adopt fads are like feathers in the wind, blown whichever way the wind is blowing. Classy people are quietly "the same" all the time. They wrote thank you notes by hand 10 years ago, and they still do it today. When they read a self-help article saying "you should write thank you notes by hand to get more business," they simply smile. They think you should write thank you notes by hands because it's the classy thing to do.

 

Saint Maximilian Kolbe in the Knight —Final Edition