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
Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Men are respectable only as they respect.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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 a man, he will do the more.
—James Howell (c.1593–1666) Anglo-Welsh Writer, Historian
Respect the burden.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
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
There is no respect for others without humility in one’s self.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
If you have some respect for people as they are, you can be more effective in helping them to become better than they are.
—John W. Gardner (1912–2002) American Activist
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
Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
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
Fools take to themselves the respect that is given to their office.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
Respect starts with yourself.
—Common Proverb
A celebrated people lose dignity upon a closer view.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
The inquiry in England is not whether a man has talents and genius, but whether he is passive and polite and a virtuous ass and obedient to noblemen’s opinions in art and science. If he is, he is a good man. If not, he must be starved.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
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
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
Self-respect is the cornerstone of all virtue.
—John Herschel (1792–1871) English Mathematician, Astronomer, Chemist
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
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
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
I get no respect. The way my luck is running, if I was a politician I would be honest.
—Rodney Dangerfield (1921–2004) American Comedian, TV Personality, Actor
Attention and respect give pleasure, however late, or however useless. But they are not useless, when they are late, it is reasonable to rejoice, as the day declines, to find that it has been spent with the approbation of mankind.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
It’s so clear that you have to cherish everyone. I think that’s what I get from these older black women, that every soul is to be cherished, that every flower Is to bloom.
—Alice Walker (b.1944) American Novelist, Activist
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
Respect commands itself and it can neither be given nor withheld when it is due.
—Eldridge Cleaver (1935–98) American Author, Activist
Honest people will respect us for our merit: the public, for our luck.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Reverence is one of the signs of strength, irreverence one of the surest indications of weakness. No man will rise high who jeers at sacred things. The fine loyalties of life must be reverenced or they will be fore sworn in the day of trial.
—Unknown
Treating your adversary with respect is giving him an advantage to which he is not entitled.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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