Our Creed: The True Gentleman

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 brothers of SAE dedicate themselves to this creed, upholding its standards until they rest in chapter eternal. To supplement The True Gentleman, brothers of SAE strive to better themselves in our four founding principles: Scholarship, Friendship, Leadership, and Service. Throughout their time in college, and after, the men of SAE across the nation practice this creed and these four values in order to better not only themselves, but those around them as well. To emphasize our focus on scholarship, the brothers at Iowa State implemented scholarships back in the 1930’s to support high grade achievements. To continue that tradition, the members of the Iowa State chapter extend a scholarship to all men who embody the values stated in The True Gentleman. If you are interested in this, please visit the Scholarship page.