20 Characteristics of a Good Man that Make Him Reliable & Desirable

People are complicated. They can seem bad when actually good, and seem good when they’re bad. So, what are the characteristics of a good man?

Characteristics of a good man, what exactly are they? What defines a good man? Is it a man who is gentle? Is it a man who is kind? Is it a man who is respectful and selfless?

Many people say a good man is hard to find. And that may be true, but there is a reason for it. A good man is not a perfect man.

There are plenty of good men with flaws. They make mistakes. They are completely imperfect, just like the rest of us. But what makes these imperfect men good is their desire to be good.

They make up for their wrongs. They apologize and try to be better. They are honest with themselves. And, they never claim to be perfect.

A good man is not one thing. A good man is many things and not many others. There are characteristics of a good man, but they are not one size fits all. 

[Read: These 20 qualities are what make up a good man]

Spotting the characteristics of a good man

The thing about spotting the characteristics of a good man is that they won’t often jump out at you. A good man is not throwing his goodness in your face.

A good man is exactly how people should be. He is just good. It isn’t shocking or noteworthy in everyday life. You won’t necessarily be able to pinpoint the characteristics of his goodness in passing. Sure, he may help an elderly woman cross the street or feed stray animals, but it goes beyond that.

The best way to spot the characteristics of a good man is interaction and satisfaction. You come away from spending time with him feeling good about yourself and about him.

He makes you smile, not necessarily because he is funny or amusing but because that is just him. The characteristics of a good man are listable, but the main one is just a feeling he gives you where you just know he is downright good. [Read: 11 surefire ways to know if you’re dating a true gentleman]

Characteristics of a good man

I know I just made a big stink about the characteristics of a good man being subtle and not noteworthy, but they can be clearcut. The characteristics of a good man can be listed one by one.

But, the important part of this list is to know that not all good men have all of these qualities. Not all good men live without sin, mistakes, or some badness. Good men have aspects of goodness and deep down have a desire to spread that goodness. It is what ultimately makes them so good.

If you want to know how to spot a good man, know if you are one, or even try harder to be one, these characteristics of a good man can lead you in the right direction.

#1 A good man is kind. I know this seems basic, but it is important. Kindness is not about being agreeable. It is about spreading goodness. It can be anything from telling a cashier to have a good day, opening the door for a stranger, or offering your umbrella to someone. [Read: 12 things to look for in a guy before dating him]

#2 A good man admits when he is wrong. Being able to admit your mistakes is one of the most emotionally intelligent and mature things a man can do. Being able to analyze your past behavior and grow and change from it is something a good man aspires to.

#3 A good man is open. A good man talks about his feelings and is open to others. He is accepting of all differences.

#4 A good man is honest. A good man knows honesty is the best policy. Even the best people lie on occasion, and he is not a saint but is honest when it matters. He doesn’t keep secrets from those he cares about. [Read: 10 types of creepy guys that aren’t worth your time]

#5 A good man is reliable. A good man keeps his word. If he says he is going to do something, he does it. He is dependable.

#6 A good man is patient. A good man is accepting of your needs and desires. He will meet you halfway. He will not get angry or impatient when you are moving slower than he is.

#7 A good man listens. A good man is a good listener. He can be a good talker too, but he knows when to not say anything and just listen. He doesn’t just sit and hear, he pays attention because he cares.

#8 A good man is humble. A good man can know he is good but is never full of himself. He doesn’t think he is better than everyone else. He doesn’t measure his success by his accomplishments but by his determination.

#9 A good man can laugh at himself. A good man has a solid sense of humor in life. He can see the lightness in any situation, especially when laughing at himself.

#10 A good man is confident. A good man builds his confidence from within. He feels good about who he is and how he treats others. He doesn’t require acceptance or approval but is proud of himself. [Read: The subtle differences between a confident and arrogant man]

#11 A good man is respectful. A good man respects everyone equally. He treats everyone from every walk of life with the same appreciation.

#12 A good man challenges himself and others. A good man is always striving to be better. He knows he isn’t perfect and isn’t trying to be but pushes himself outside of his comfort zone and does more. He also challenges others to do the same and won’t stand idly by when he witnesses injustice. He speaks up.

#13 A good man is polite. A good man is polite to his family, elders, children, servers, and everyone in between. He says please and thank you and knows the weight of simple words like that.

#14 A good man adds positivity to people’s lives. A good man does not drain the energy and happiness from others. Instead, he wants to leave people better and happier than they were before him.

#15 A good man is gracious. A good man doesn’t take things for granted. He appreciates the opportunities he has, the people in his life, and shows that gratitude daily.

#16 A good man is direct. He knows that being direct with good news and bad is the best way to be in most situations. A good man has fears and hesitations but knows when to push things aside and focus on the task at hand.

#17 A good man has morals that he lives by. A good man has a strong sense of right and wrong. He doesn’t see the world in black and white and is open to other’s thoughts and ways of living, but he has faith in his stance and treats people according to it.

#18 A good man is supportive. A good man will not judge someone for their choice of life partner, job, or anything else. He will support those around him.

#19 A good man sees things in more than one way. He will not play devil’s advocate but can see multiple sides to most situations. He can look at things from other perspectives and is accepting of different opinions. [Read: These are the signs of insecurity that insecure people can’t hide]

#20 A good man makes an effort. A good man is not lazy or selfish. He has his moments as we all do, but he wants to make the effort to make others happy. He doesn’t do it for recognition or approval but simply because he cares.

[Read: What sets a good man apart from a lesser man]

The characteristics of a good man are endless. These qualities are examples but not the end all be all. A good man is so many things, but when you know, you know.