The Honest man

The honest man is the product of a meticulous education established by the Court in the reign of Louis XIII ; he becomes its most successful product in the France of Louis XIV. During this century of cultural and spiritual radiance, the honest man is in fact the best ambassador of the Sun King, the one who, by his behaviour, his appearance and his intellect, embodies and honours the sophistication of his era. He is the icon that best represents the profound transformation of a society that has reached an astonishing level of civilisation.
One easily recognises an honest man because he is the personification of good manners. He is a sociable being, refined and excellent company. He knows the rules of decorum, the limits of good taste, the science of the world, the savoir-vivre and politeness. His education is certainly essential, but the practice of his values is just as important. Thus one can find, in the 17th century universal dictionary by Antoine Furetière, a list of that which is done, and that which is not done, in order to claim the appellation of “ honest man ” :
It is correct to stand hatless and in honest stance before the great and the ladies.
It is unseemly for an adviser to play the fool.
It is unseemly for an old woman to dress in vivid colours.
It is unseemly in France to kiss a lady's hand, if she is not a princess. Etc.
The perfect knowledge of these rules and their faultless application confer his title to the honest man. Beyond these general principles indicating the correct behaviour in society, this question of good taste is also applied to the domains of language and intellect.
Thus the people at Court lose the vulgarity and ignorance that they had in the previous century.
However the greatest quality of the honest man is his intelligence and he must not fall into affectation. It is necessary to be virtuous and charitable, but also brave, courageous and a man of honour. As François Bluche puts it, It is not just by luck that honesty is at the same time a moral virtue and a virtue of civilisation and sociability.
Throughout the 17th century, the directors of conscience and preachers of good principles follow the same route, producing an important number of works on the art of good manners or how to become an honest man. But not all can become an honest man because exterior politeness, rigid etiquette and dissembling cannot hide the true nature of the personality. La Rochefoulcaud has a very cynical opinion on this subject : The true honest man is the one who is displeased by nothing.
As for the honest woman, he says : Most honest women are the hidden treasures that are only secure because one doesn't seek them.