Nobility

Originally referring to hereditary ownership of land, titles and privileges, to be a member of the nobility distinguished a person from other groups by status, education and way of life. Although conferring many advantages (in particular a right to rent and labour from an estate, nobility confers responsibility as well, as the expression noblesse oblige indicates. The word nobility now frequently refers to a person who demonstrates the qualities expected of one highly born (generosity, excellence, dignity), whatever his or her birth.