noblesse oblige
Privilege demands responsibility
Noblesse oblige is the idea that privilege carries responsibility—that those with wealth, power, or high social standing have a duty to act generously toward those less fortunate.
The French phrase translates literally as "nobility obliges." It can describe genuine charitable impulse or, used critically, suggest condescension: His philanthropy felt more like noblesse oblige than real concern.
State of being answerable
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- serviceAid or maintenance
- moral dutyEthical requirement to act
- social responsibilityDuty to community welfare
accountability · custodianship · trusteeship · guardianship · burden · expectation · code · conduct
Generous, noble spirit
- graciousnessCourteous, kind demeanor
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- dignityInnate personal worth
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
chivalry · gallantry · altruism · selflessness · courtesy · gentility · refinement · rectitude
Voluntary aid for others
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
- generosityReadiness to give freely
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- endowmentPermanent donated fund
donation · benefactor · giving · grant · foundation · hospital wing · scholarship · trust
Assumed right to benefits
- wealthAbundance of valuable resources
- affluenceAbundance of money
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- advantageFavorable position or circumstance
birthright · elite · exclusivity · upper class · social standing · prestige · power · influence
responsibility
State of being answerable
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- serviceAid or maintenance
- moral dutyEthical requirement to act
social responsibility · accountability · custodianship · trusteeship · guardianship · burden · expectation · code · conduct · propriety
magnanimity
Generous, noble spirit
- graciousnessCourteous, kind demeanor
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- dignityInnate personal worth
honor · chivalry · gallantry · altruism · selflessness · courtesy · gentility · refinement · rectitude · integrity
charity
Voluntary aid for others
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
- generosityReadiness to give freely
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
endowment · donation · benefactor · giving · grant · foundation · hospital wing · scholarship · trust · bequest
entitlement
Assumed right to benefits
- wealthAbundance of valuable resources
- affluenceAbundance of money
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
advantage · birthright · elite · exclusivity · upper class · social standing · prestige · power · influence · access
peerage
System of noble ranks
viscount · marquess · earl · lord · lady · manor · estate · hereditary · blue blood · gentry
- French Loanwordsa la carte, ballet, a la mode, au revoir, bon appetit
- nobilityking, queen, prince, princess, duke
- social classupper class, middle class, lower class, working class, social class
- aristocracylord, titles, lady, heraldry, coats of arms
- Medieval Royaltyking, queen, prince, princess, crown
- philanthropydonations, charity work, donate, give, giving
noblesse obligegreed
Excessive desire for wealth
avarice · rapacity · hoarding · selfishness · self-interest
noblesse obligecallousness
Cruel emotional indifference
indifference · punching down · willful blindness · heartlessness
noble, nobility, obligation, oblige, ennoble, nobleman, nobly, noblesse, ennobled