The Mancraft GuideStuff Your Dad Shoulda Told You

George Orwell said, “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” We live in an age where fighting is assumed to be bad, when in fact, there are good men out there who are able and willing to do combat to protect others. What’s the difference between those who harm for Good and those who harm for Evil?

Centuries ago, Desiderius Erasmus wrote a work that addresses this issue. Its name can be translated as, The Manual of a Christian Knight or, with a more modern spin, The Handbook for The Righteous Warrior. The book is a lot longer than just a list 22 Rules, but below they’ve been extracted and condensed for easy reading.

1. Increase Your Faith
…even if the entire world appears mad.

2. Act Upon Your Faith
…even if you must undergo the loss of everything.

3. Analyze Your Fears
You will find things are not as bad as they appear.

4. Make Virtue The Only Goal of Your Life
…dedicate all your enthusiasm, all your effort, your leisure as well as your business.

5. Turn Away From Material Things
If you are greatly concerned with money you will be weak of spirit.

6. Train Your Mind to Distinguish Good and Evil
Let your rule of government be determined by the common good.

7. Never Let Any Setback Stop You In Your Quest
We are not perfect–this only means we should try harder.

8. If You Have Frequent Temptations, Do Not Worry.
Begin to worry when you do not have temptation, because that is a sure sign that you cannot distinguish good from evil.

9. Always Be Prepared For An Attack
Careful generals set guards even in times of peace.

10. Spit, As It Were, In The Face Of Danger
Keep a stirring quotation with you for encouragement.

11. There Are Two Dangers: One Is Giving Up, The Other Is Pride
After you have performed some worthy task, give all the credit to someone else.

12. Turn Your Weakness Into Virtue
If you are inclined to be selfish, make a deliberate effort to be giving.

13. Treat Each Battle As Though It Were Your Last
…and you will stand, in the end, victorious!

14. Don’t Assume That Doing Good Allows You To Keep A Few Vices.
The enemy you ignore the most is the one who conquers you.

15. Weigh Your Alternatives Carefully
The wrong way will often seem easier than the right.

16. Never Admit Defeat Even If You Have Been Wounded
The good soldier’s painful wounds spur him to gather his strength.

17. Always Have A Plan Of Action
…so when the time comes for battle, you will know what to do.

18. Calm Your Passions By Seeing How Little There Is To Gain
We often worry and scheme about trifling matters of no real importance.

19. Speak With Yourself This Way:
“If I do what I am considering, would I want my family to know about it”?

20. Virtue Has Its Own Reward
Once a person has it, they would not exchange it for anything.

21. Life Can Be Sad, Difficult And Quick-Make It Count For Something
Since we do not know when death will come, act honorably every day.

22. Repent Your Wrongs
Those who do not admit their faults have the most to fear.

From Enchiridion Militis Christiani: A Guide for The Righteous Protector by Erasmus, 1503, as extracted by Sgt Chris Pascoe, Michigan State Police, and quoted in On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and Peace by Dave Grossman, 2004.

What Do You Think?

Are these principles you can live by? Which one do you find most insightful? Let us know in the comments!

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