[FormerlyAnotherLurker]

noblesse oblige -
the moral obligation of those of high birth, powerful social position, etc., to act with honor, kindliness, generosity, etc.
[1830–40; < F: lit., nobility obliges]
FROM: Random House Webster's Unabridged

Real Cobra or ___?

[GatekeeperBookman]

Real Cobra or ___? Indeed, show us the stats or a photo.

[Joe Bonforte]

noblesse oblige - the moral obligation of those of high birth, powerful social position, etc., to act with honor, kindliness, generosity, etc.

You beat me to it. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who, when wondering about a term or trying to explain what something means, first thinks "check the dictionary".

My favorite quote on it: "Noblesse oblige is felt only by the noble." ("Oscar Gordon" in Glory Road by Robert Heinlein)

It's made clear in that book that Heinlein does not consider it to have any bad connotations - he holds it up as an admirable trait.