Gumption
“Gumption” is one of the most important qualities to possess for someone looking to rise higher in the military or a business. It is a kind of courage or confidence that Southerners greatly respect. If a boss had to justify why they promoted a certain employee, they might say, “She simply showed the right kind of gumption for the role.” Or, if a U.S. Army officer was particularly impressed with an act of bravery, they might say, “Picking up that grenade and throwing it back at the enemy took a lot of gumption.”
Gumption
I Declare
You must have heard this saying in old-timey films based in the South like Gone With The Wind where the nobler characters would use it to emphasize what they were saying. For example, if you were having dinner at a family friends’ house, and wanted to compliment their gumbo, you might say, “I do declare, this gumbo is the most delicious I have ever had!” This saying is similar to “I say”, which is more commonly used by fancy English folks.
I Declare
