The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe.

- John Walter Wayland -

 "The True Gentleman"... For almost three-quarters of a century, our Brothers have been guided by these simple but powerful words. They have inspired us in times of discouragement, guided us in times of confusion, humbled us at our moments of great achievement, and bonded us across all distance and time.

In many ways the words penned by John Walter Wayland are Sigma Alpha Epsilon, to members and non-members alike. No other piece of writing captures so completely our intentions and standards; no other works sums up so concisely what we stand for, aspire to, and work toward in everything we do.