It seems to me that trying to live without friends is like milking a bear to get cream for your morning coffee. It is a whole lot of trouble and then not worth much after you get it.
I think a gentleman is someone who holds the comfort of other people above their own. The instinct to do that is inside every good man I believe. The rules about opening doors and buying dinner and all of that other 'gentleman' stuff is a chess game especially these days.
