Taken from The Gentlemen’s Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness, from the best French, English, and American Authorities – printed in 1860!

…every sensible man will shave himself, if only as an exercise of character, for a man should learn to live, in every detail without assistance. Moreover, in most cases, we shave ourselves better than barbers can do.

While it may take a little less character to shave in this day and age than it did back in antebellum America, the idea that men (and women) should strive to be self sufficient to the best of their abilities holds true – at the very least when it comes to shaving!