[mrsmith]

It's "noblesse oblige" when you treat with respect (or "go the extra mile for") those you have power over- but not when you do it for your equals or superiors.

In all cases it is wise! (That's why wise nobles were obliged to act that way.)

[Cobra64]

Thanks for your sage explanation and balance between the "less fortunate and the more fortunate" thinking. That's what I have tried to do when I committed a faux pas with good friends of my parents when I made a really stupid statement about their canned dog food (more expensive) versus our stuff in a bag (cheap stuff). I said (to our less than wealthy friends, "even we can't afford Alpo, we feed our Irish Setter the stuff in a bag." I will NEVER forget that. Boy was I a stupid dolt! (I was about 13 when I got that lecture from my Dad. I thought he was going to welt my ass with his belt. I started crying after he explained how my remarks heart his friends feelings.

[catonsville]

My czech wife who claims aristocratic forebears occasionally uses the term. She likes to use it this way. It is somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

"i am an aristocrat and have certain obligations to various workers, helpers , peasants, underlings and other human beings. It is a sign of my noble status and I will try to be nice and fair to them"

It is actually a subtle put down.

The posters father was more straight foreward. He is saying that if you consider yourself an important, useful person, you have certain obligations to those below you on the social/economic chain.