Nobility Defined, by Bryan Caplan

I occasionally describe people as "noble."  What do I mean by it?  In slogan form: "He would rather be wronged than do wrong."  The noble, as I use the term, hold themselves to exemplary standards of thought, word, and deed.  Intellectually, they strive to be reasonable and fair at all times.  They don't seek excuses - like "My opponents did it first" - to be unreasonable or unfair.  They apply my recommended remedies for purges and schisms to one and all.  And on a deep level, they internalize my admonition against winning.  In short, the noble are the puritanically praiseworthy - i.e., people who merit praise given my admittedly unforgiving standards.

None of this requires that the noble substantively agree with me.  I have deep disagreements with several of the noblest people I know.  And needless to say, people who agree with me on substance disappoint me every day. 

The good news is that anyone can become noble.  Starting now.

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