We owe respect to the living. To the dead we owe only truth.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
A resolution to avoid an evil is seldom framed till the evil is so far advanced as to make avoidance impossible.
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) English Novelist, Poet
In order to acquire a growing and lasting respect in society, it is a good thing, if you possess great talent, to give, early in your youth, a very hard kick to the right shin of the society that you love. After that, be a snob.
—Salvador Dali (1904–89) Spanish Painter
Respect starts with yourself.
—Common Proverb
A mere literary man is a dull man; a man who is solely a man of business is a selfish man; but when literature and commerce are united, they make a respectable man.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The worst indignity is to be given a bedpan by a stranger who calls you by your first name.
—Maggie Kuhn (1905–95) American Social Activist
Respect commands itself and it can neither be given nor withheld when it is due.
—Eldridge Cleaver (1935–98) American Author, Activist
We ought not to treat living creatures like shoes or household belongings, which when worn with use we throw away.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
There is no respect for others without humility in one’s self.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
If you steal something small you are a petty thief, but if you steal millions you are a gentleman of society.
—Greek Proverb
To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; and to have a deference for others governs our manners.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
Good resolutions are useless attempts to interfere with scientific laws. Their origin is pure vanity. Their result is absolutely nil. They give us, now and then, some of those luxurious sterile emotions that have a certain charm for the weak. They a
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect for anyone.
—Billy Graham (1918–91) American Baptist Religious Leader
Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
I am in earnest; I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch; and I will be heard.
—William Lloyd Garrison (1805–79) American Journalist, Abolitionist
Fools take to themselves the respect that is given to their office.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
Prestige is the shadow of money and power. Where these are, there it is. Like the national market for soap or automobiles and the enlarged arena of federal power, the national cash-in area for prestige has grown, slowly being consolidated into a truly national system.
—C. Wright Mills (1916–62) American Sociologist, Academic
Well, dearie, men have to do some awfully mean things to keep up their respectability. But you can’t blame them for that, can you?
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Respect the burden.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Respect a man, he will do the more.
—James Howell (c.1593–1666) Anglo-Welsh Writer, Historian
Honest people will respect us for our merit: the public, for our luck.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
I think the worst thing this nation could do for humanity would be to leave any uncertainty as to our will, our purpose and our capacity to carry out our purpose.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
When people do not respect us we are sharply offended; yet deep down in his private heart no man much respects himself.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.
—Malcolm X (1925–65) American Civil Rights Leader
Your home is regarded as a model home, your life as a model life. But all this splendor, and you along with it… it’s just as though it were built upon a shifting quagmire. A moment may come, a word can be spoken, and both you and all this splendor will collapse.
—Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) Norwegian Playwright
We live thick and are in each other’s way, and stumble over one another, and I think we thus lose some respect for one another.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Having chosen our course, without guile and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear and with manly hearts.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
To depersonalize man is the dominant drift of our times.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
I shall be glad when you have strangled the invincible respectability that dogs your steps.
—D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Essayist, Literary Critic
Few parents nowadays pay any regard to what their children say to them. The old-fashioned respect for the young is fast dying out.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright