Chivalry

What are the qualities of being chivalrous?

I can't seem to find any good definitions from any website. They all seem geared toward "gentlemanly behavior towards women", which is far from what chivalry is. I have a good idea what chivalry is myself, but I can't seem to quantify it into words beyond "the quality and honor associated with knighthood", which doesn't really tell much when I try describing it to other people.

Today, I asked quite a number of people at my school, and it seems that most people are too shallow to understand what it is. It's only to be expected though, like... what am I expecting from a high school?

I would say that these days just being polite and a little bit selfless would be considered chivalrous. Chivalry used to be commonplace but no longer, and because of that the definition needs to be modernized. Going out of your way to help someone, helping an elder carry something, etc.

Also for your dilemma, it depends on what you owe her. If she sacrificed something major for you then I'd say you have an obligation but if it was just like... borrowing study notes or something then forget about it. If you thanked her, that should be enough. When you are no longer friends with someone they cannot expect you to go out of your way to benefit them.

There's a clear distinction between being polite and being chivalrous. I don't know how to explain it, but politeness is merely a subset of the varieties of codes within chivalry. Helping an elderly carry something and going out of your way to help someone really shouldn't be considered chivarly because its just part of basic politeness, which should be carried out whether your chivalrous or not. Holding the door open for someone applies to this too.

As for my dilemma, I gave it to her for her forgiveness. I think that in (the "ancient" definition of) chivalry, if you owed someone a favor, you'd carry it out, even if the person became your enemy, unless the request was demoralizing (such as "go commit suicide") or dishonorable (such as "go murder this person").

But the definition of chivarly has changed so much. Really, I just want to know how to quantify it. Maybe someone can help me compile a list or an analysis of how chivalry has changed over time? The best thing I found is that "there is no written law of chivarly", which makes this topic especially annoying to approach.

I guess I'll start off by saying that it's easy to call an action chivalrous or unchivalrous. For example, let's say I have a dispute with someone, and we've agreed to physically fight. It would be unchivalrous for me to stab him while he's using a urinal and is vulnerable. As another example, let's say I have I'm talking to someone. It would be unchivalrous of me to mention something that I've sworn not to say.

But these are only actions, and not definitions. There's a quote from "The Trial and Death of Socrates", you'd come across the line "Remember that I did not ask you to give me two or three examples of piety, but to explain the general idea which makes all pious things to be pious. Do you not recollect that there was one idea which made the impious impious, and the pious pious?" This sums up what I'm looking for.

Personally, for me, chivalry is interchangeable with "taking the high road" and "acting with class", but that's just me. I see these getting shot down pretty extensively, but when I think of the word chivalry, that's what automatically comes up.

Its something that would really have a different meaning to virtually every person, as far as I'm concerned, it really just means doing the right thing, not in large scale events, but holding doors, chairs, helping people you don't really know, so on, would be chivalry, to me anyway

they gave a really good explanation of it in both seasons of from Gs to Gents, available on MTC. They even teach you on how to be.

Chivalry- polite to women, old people, being a good buddy etc. except to those who are like "OMFG WTH? I Open Mah Own doors cuz I'm a womenz!'

politeness- to everyone including other guys

I guess Chivalry is for certain situations, but politeness covers the entirey of your life actions.