A Knight's Way...

A knight's way is that of generosity, not of holdings or profit. He must live by the grace of his deeds and the kindness of others. A knight is the epitome of altruism, dignity, and courtesy, putting the well-being of his people, his nation, his king, and all others before his own, giving every man (and by “man” I mean any sentient being) all due respect.

The code of valor is the founding principle of all chivalrous behavior. Virtue is our faith, our spiritual path. Bravery and boldness are our practice, for we must always be willing to sacrifice ourselves for a nobler cause. Allow my nominal idol to sing a canto that he cantillated when asked of his purpose:

The knight-errant Don Quixote de La Mancha here describes the constant struggle all we chevaliers are dedicated to: the unending quest for righteousness and virtue to triumph over hate, malice, and despicability; the fight of Good versus Evil.

Further on selfishness, it has been noted by philosophers and sociobiologists of this world that there is nothing that a human can do that is not selfish in some way, that either helps himself, helps the species and therefore himself, or any aspect of generosity.
I dare them to say that to the spinster steeped in poverty who finds an abandoned baby on the street, and takes him in to care for him and keep him alive, sacrificing her own meager ration and well-being. She is not helping the species by saving a child that has been discarded, whether because of birth defect or other undesirability; in fact, she is lowering the chances of survival for herself and her community by introducing another mouth to feed. What she is doing is excersizing compassion.
Let them say that to the knight who dies for his people; he has given his life and sworn fealty to that community because they are virtuous (and, let me say, there is not a more virtuous community of people to defend in all the world of Aerynth as this land of Lumen Solis Victrix), and he believes they should triumph, not himself. Every one of his winnings is for the glory of his people; all that he is is given, freely and without reservation, to them. There is no selfishness in that.
That is what humanity is about, what knighthood truly is: the quest for our very souls.
Those who believe that nothing anyone can do is unselfish except gratuitous evil, that nothing is sacred, should study the path of virtue.

Chivalry also entails, requires, and demands absolute, undying, unrelinquishable respect, pure adoration, and rapturous esteem for women. Women are to be venerated and worshiped as the earthly goddesses they are, for “venerate” itself derives from Venere, Venus. Our unadulterated admiration is to be given without recourse, for, as with all our deeds, we expect nothing in return, offering gracious courtesy, and of the fairer sex always thinking high-mindedly. Truly, woman is the soul of man, the radiance that lights his way; woman is the heart of glory.

As the Royal Chevaliers of His Majesty, we carry out his wishes, his vision, his light, and are his terrestrial radiance, as much as the sun’s corona is its protective atmosphere. A Royal Knight is a valiant Apollo, a figure of honor and justice, as well as an altruist of cheritability, honesty, and consideration for others, fighting for all these things on the glorious field of battle.

To conclude, a knight who accepts money for services, no matter how benevolent those deeds may have been, is no knight at all, but a prostitute. Know that virtue is our faith, bravery is our substance, and that modesty is our human being, for a knight is brave and courteous, bold and generous, affable and patient, and may the light forever guide him.