[July 3, 2024] Nick Freitas treats us to a discourse on the five categories of a good man. Asked by a moderator, “What does it mean to be a good man,” Nick is quick to answer. Nick Freitas is a politician in the Virginia House of Delegates and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He has been described as having a “conservative voting record and libertarian streak” by the AP.
Here he is in his own words from a video short (link here):
“There’s five categories that I think men need to be able to develop. The first is the spiritual side because if you don’t understand what your overall meaning and purpose is, then it is very very hard to effectively live out the other categories.”
In the past, I also wrote about the five basic categories that men should have to be successful in life. My words were similar: religious, intelligent, good mental and physical shape, have a family and friends and have a job/career.
“Physically, [men have] a responsibility to take care of themselves and to be formidable.”
This category ties in with his article below about how fathers should be dangerous to those who would threaten their families. The point of his article was to show yourself as formidable and not weak because predators and scavengers go for the weak.
“I think men should be intelligent. I hate the modern depictions of every father in cartoons and TV series where they’re idiots; they’re morons. They’re never somebody you can go to for advice, and a man should be. A father should be the sort of person that their children can go to, to get sound advice and counsel and be confident that when their father tells them something, it is both true and relevant.”
There is a lot to unpack in this, but suffice it to note that there is a trend in the media to show men as toxic, untrustworthy, spiteful, and full of hate toward women. Nothing could be further from the truth. Men are, by nature, protectors, and to be a successful protector, a man must be strong, smart, focused, and mature.
“The emotional category, I don’t believe men should be weak. ‘Oh well, you need to be vulnerable,’ ‘You need to be in touch with your feminine side.’ No! What you need to be is emotionally mature.”
I think his comment here is straightforward. This idea that men must be weak to be attractive is wrong, and being a modern man does not mean that at all.
“The fifth is professional because I do believe that a man is supposed to provide. When a man looks at it as his primary responsibility to be the breadwinner in such a way that their wife can choose to be home with the kids. I believe that should be the goal of a man professionally.”
Well said. This is part of the purpose of a man: to provide. Any man unable or unwilling to provide for his family will be recognized as unimportant, which is the death knell for a good man.
You can find him on YouTube at @Nickjfreitas.
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NOTE: In an earlier article, I wrote about how Nick Freitas answered “Why Dads Should be Dangerous” in September 2023. I think he is right.
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I like the fact that the “spiritual” is listed first and Nick says why. And that is much more important and will also be discarded immediately by the “modern man” as old and useless gobbledygook. And that is unfortunate because it does underlay what it takes to be a good person overall and if you do not have a proper foundation, it matters not how well you build the house of manhood. And I see too many leaders fail because of it. Take for example Pres. Joe Biden, he has tried to do good but rejects God and religion. He says that accepting God is a choice (correct) and goes on to reject God in his actions. And that is where he fails himself and his nation and is now making the world a much more dangerous place.
Don’t forget the Good Men Project: https://goodmenproject.com/ethics-values/25-virtues-found-in-the-best-of-men-fiff/
25 Virtues Found in the Best of Men
This is a great site to go to and much better than most, except of course, this site by Gen. Satterfield. Here is the writers first para:
“Character is reflected in our behaviors, and often our behaviors are influenced by our beliefs. By defining our virtues, we solidify our beliefs about our values. Once defined, we have a blueprint to guide our actions as we strive to live a virtuous life. Here are 25 foundational virtues that I use as my map for living.”
… and this one in The Art of Manliness: https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/behavior/semper-virilis-a-roadmap-to-manhood-in-the-21st-century/
Semper Virilis: A Roadmap to Manhood in the 21st Century
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt
“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” – Marcus Aurelius
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“No man is more unhappy than he who never faces adversity. For he is not permitted to prove himself.” – Seneca
Good guy that Nick Freitas. I started watching him on youtube recently and he has a lot of good sense thoughts to share.
Here is another perspective:
“7 traits of a genuinely good man, according to psychology”
https://thevessel.io/traits-of-a-genuinely-good-man-according-to-psychology/
And. I will note that I believe Gen. Satterfield will disagree with many of these listed. For example, #2 is “Respect for all”. We all know that respect must be earned. Often what they are saying by ‘respect’ is ‘being polite.’ Being polite is important. Respect. Nope.
Thank you, JT. You are correct.
The author covered that in #7 Kindness. But I do believe you are right and mixes up these ideas. But he also mentions “responsibility” which is at the core.
Excellent commentary on what it takes to be a good man. I like this five parts of a man that Nick Freitas gives us to contemplate. There is always more, of course, but I do think the basics are covered here. And, those who work on these five things are bound to be better than others. And, I do believe that while it may be very hard to follow his adivce, it is harder not to.
ditto
good words for us all
❤ Nick Freitas … I love this guy. What a real man! ❤