Noblesse oblige is a French expression from the times when the English Nobility spoke French and maintained in English meaning that nobility extends beyond mere entitlements and requires the person who holds such a status to fulfill social responsibilities. For example, a primary obligation of a nobleman could include generosity towards those around him. As those who lived on the nobles land had obligations to the Nobility, the Nobility had obligations to their people including protection at the least. The Oxford English Dictionary states that the term suggests "noble ancestry constrains to honourable behaviour; privilege entails responsibility."
