75 Quotes about Respect & 3 Poems (+ Tips)

Jacqueline Eisenbraun (Senior Editor)

Are you looking for quotes about respect? We’ve put together the right selection for you below. Take your pick from over 70 quotes and share your chosen quote with your friends. Whether you’re looking for words of wisdom or particularly beautiful quotes – you will find exactly what you’re looking for here.

Respect is a highly-valued feeling and virtue. Everyone wants to be respected and valued. So it is important to uphold common values and tolerate your adversaries, even when you have differing opinions.

Respect should not be confused with admiration. Admiration is indeed nice, but it passes as soon as someone else is more deserving of it. You are better off earning the respect of those around you, as it lasts longer and is more meaningful. Admiration can turn into envy, but respect is earned.

Quotes about Respect, Recognition and Tolerance

Quotes about Respect, Recognition and Tolerance

Below, we have gathered a selection of quotes about respect that should inspire and motivate you. You will find over 70 quotes in nine different categories below that you can use according to your situation and requirements.

In addition to the main topic of respect, you will also find quotes that deal with sincerity, appreciation and recognition.

Respect Yourself: Quotes about Self Respect

Respect Yourself: Quotes about Self Respect

To start off, here we have a number of quotes about self-respect. Self-respect is one of the most important forms of respect, since you cannot expect others to respect you if you do not even respect yourself.

Having self-respect can mean standing up for yourself, knowing when to say no, and not letting other people’s opinions of you affect your own self-esteem. The following quotes will help you to address these issues.

1. If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.
   (Alexander Hamilton, Founding Father of the United States, 1757–1804)
2. You yourself, as much an anybody else in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. (Buddhist proverb)
3. Respect yourself above all.
   (Pythagoras, Greek philosopher, 570 B.C.– circa 500 B.C.)
4. Man doesn’t live by bread alone. Many prefer self-respect to food.
   (Mahatma Gandhi, Indian lawyer, 1869–1948)
5. He that respects himself is safe from others. He wears a coat of mail that none can pierce.
   (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet, 1807–1882)
6. Respect yourself and others will respect you.
   (Confucius, Chinese philosopher, 551 B.C.–479 B.C.)
7. If it’s meant for you, you won’t have to beg for it. You will never have to sacrifice your dignity for your destiny.
   (Edgar Allan Poe, American writer, 1809–1849)
8. Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them,
   (Aristotle, Greek philosopher, 384 B.C.–322 B.C.)
9. I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself.
   (Charlotte Bronte, English novelist, 1816–1855)
10. It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people but care more about their opinion than our own.
    (Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor, 121 A.D.–180 A.D.)
11. Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and self-respect is the chief element in courage.
    (Thucydides, Greek historian, 460 B.C.–400 B.C.)
12. Not one drop of my self-worth depends on your acceptance of me.
    (Unknown)
13. Sometimes walking away has nothing to do with weakness, and everything to do with strength. We walk away not because we want others to realize our worth and value, but because we finally realize our own.
    (Unknown)

Quotes on Respect and Honesty

Quotes on Respect and Honesty

Here you will find quotes about respect and honesty. They deal with honorable truths and the falsities of superficial people. The quotes listed below highlight and analyze respect as a virtue.

Use one of the quotes below when you would like to address respect in the context of honesty.

1. Efforts to gain respect and reputation are mostly like efforts to turn lies into truth.
   (Albert Bitzius, Swiss writer, 1797–1854)
2. To sincerely and cordially accept those that do not accept us – the height of nobility!
   (Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, Moravian-Austrian writer, 1830–1916)
3. Honesty – the virtue that distinguishes the donkey from the fox.
   (Alexander Otto Weber, German writer, 1868–1939)
4. Honesty and respect are valuable gifts… do not expect them from superficial people.
   (Greek proverb)
5. I am someone who respects the oldest truths more than the newest errors.
   (Otto Weiß, Austrian musician, 1849–1915)
6. I must disrespect even the most honest conviction if the matter to which it is directed does not seem to me to be honest.
   (Arthur Schnitzler, Austrian doctor, 1862–1931)
7. I am a poor man,
   But do not underestimate me:
   Poverty is an honest thing
   That can be dealt with.
   (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, 1749–1832)
8. To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we owe only the truth.
   (Voltaire, French philosopher, 1694–1778)
9. Truth respects nothing but itself.
   (Bettina von Arnim, German writer, 1785–1859)

Quotes about Respect and Appreciation

Quotes about Respect and Appreciation

This category contains quotes that are characteristic of respect and appreciation. In terms of content, these quotes are concerned with recognizing respectable behavior and the need for respect in order to interact on equal footing.

If you want to make a point about appreciation for those around you, choose a quote from this category.

1. I must own I had always looked on worms as amongst the most helpless and unintelligent members of the creation; and am amazed to find that they have a domestic life and public duties! I shall now respect them, even in our Garden pots; and regard them as something better than food for fishes.
   (Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, British botanist, 1817–1911)
2. Looking up to younger ones who once looked up to us is a joy to noble souls, a vexation to small souls.
   (Peter Sirius, German poet, 1858–1913)
3. Smooth-shaven Respectabilites not a few one finds, that are not good for much. Small thanks to a man for keeping his hands clean, who would not touch the work but with gloves on!
   (Thomas Carlyle, Scottish essayist, 1795–1881)
4. To appeal to any woman, one must begin by showing respect to her; every woman wants to be taken seriously.
   (Sully Prodhomme, French writer, 1839–1907)
5. I don’t recognize anything that others don’t recognize in me.
   (Hedwig Dohm, German writer, 1831–1919)
6. It is not my goal to be loved. It is enough for me to be respected.
   (Armand-Jean du Plessis Richelieu, French aristocrat, 1585–1642)
7. If only one could be respected without commanding respect!
   (Unknown)
8. You can avoid people out of sheer contempt or – out of sheer respect.
   (Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, Moravian-Austrian writer, 1830–1916)
9. It is more valuable to always have people’s respect than occasionally to have their admiration.
   (Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Swiss writer, 1712–1778)
10. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right.
    (Henry David Thoreau, American philosopher, 1817–1862)
11. The only people worth fighting with are those you respect.
    (Unknown)

Here you’ll find quotes about gratitude.

Short Quotes about Respect and Decency

Short Quotes about Respect and Decency

Below you will find short quotes about respect and decency. The following quotes deal with themes of compassion and tolerance, but also a lack of decency.

The quotes in this category work great as WhatsApp messages because they clarify the essentials despite their short nature. Send one of these quotes if you want to discuss decency with a friend.

1. Each of us should have respect for the suffering humanity.
   (Giuseppe Verdi, Italian composer, 1813–1901)
2. Those who demand more than the ordinary respect don’t deserve the ordinary, either.
   (Johann Gottfried Seume, German writer, 1763–1810)
3. You must not make the big things too difficult to bend over when you face them.
   (Johann Jakob Mohr, German aphorist, 1824–1866)
4. Submission ennobles the common of obedience.
   (Hippolyte Taine, French philosopher, 1828–1893)
5. Where the fox has his lair, he does not rob.
   (German proverb)
6. A fly will also sit on the king’s nose.
   (German proverb)
7. Blessed is he who behaves as respectfully before his subordinates as he does before his superiors.
   (St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscans, 1181–1226)
8. But before you can have respect, you must earn it. And to earn it, you must not wish for it.
   (Leo Tolstoy, Russian writer, 1828–1910)

Quotes about Disrespect

Quotes about Disrespect

The quotes listed here deal with the disrespect of many people. This involves disdain, a lack of intelligence, and the fact that some people only believe respectful behavior is necessary when they expect to gain something from it.

Use one of these quotes if you have been treated disrespectfully and are still looking for the right words for a confrontation.

1. The German respects nothing as much as what he does not understand.
   (Franz Grillparzer, Austrian writer, 1791–1872)
2. What would have become of me if I hadn’t always had to have respect for others.
   (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, 1749–1832)
3. Disrespect to ancestors is the first sign of immorality.
   (Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, Russian poet, 1799–1837)
4. If one does not love antiquities, one does not care much for a commemorative coin; likewise, those who have no sense of true merit attach no great importance to the greatest.
   (Luc de Clapiers, French philosopher, 1715–1747)
5. Respecting others? … Some people do not make their minds up to do this before they despise them.
   (Otto Weiß, Austrian musician, 1849–1915)
6. If young people knew how much we had to be on our toes around the older generation just to grow old, they would have more respect for us.
   (Unknown)
7. It is no art to be witty if you don’t have respect for anyone.
   (Johann Peter Eckermann, German poet, 1792–1854)
8. The great ones only value people to the extent to which they can benefit from them.
   (Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, Swiss pedagogue and educational reformer, 1746–1827)

Quotes about Respectful Interaction

Quotes about Respectful Interaction

Below you will find quotes about respectful interaction. They address themes such as a lack of respect in social settings, the need to earn it nonetheless, and the difficulty in earning respect from those around us.

Use one of the quotes listed below if you wish to appeal to the honor of those around you and encourage them to be more respectful when dealing with others.

1. Therefore, a child should revere the wise teachings of their elders!
   They have it all behind them and are, praise God!, quite virtuous.
   (Wilhelm Busch, German poet, 1832–1908)
2. Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect. All are holy in the memory and experience of my people.
   (Chief Seattle, Suquamish chief, 1783–1866)
3. When it comes to people who don’t shy away from the personal, you don’t have to deal with them or relentlessly put the handcuffs of convenience on them beforehand.
   (Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher, 1844–1900)
4. Weakness may excite tenderness, and gratify the arrogant pride of man; but the lordly caresses of a protector will not gratify a noble mind that pants for, and deserves to be respected.
   (Mary Wollstonecraft, English writer, 1759–1797)
5. Take the most urgent advice not to assume that a single person in the world is insignificant.
   (Karl Ferdinand Gutzkow, German dramatist, 1811–1878)
6. To be capable of respect is almost as rare as to be worthy of it.
   (Joseph Joubert, French moralist, 1754–1824)
7. But if you’re going to bow your back and soften your voice in front of someone, then it has to be something that teaches you respect and not makes you shudder…
   (Paul Zech, German writer, 1881–1946)
8. Show a child you respect them and they will respect you too.
   (Unknown)

Beautiful Quotes on Respect and Esteem

Beautiful Quotes on Respect and Esteem

This category contains beautiful quotes about respect and esteem. Here we are dealing with people’s happiness and the importance of respectful interactions in matters of love.

Feel free to choose a quote from this category to send to a loved one. This will show how grateful you are for their respect.

1. Respect is not the root from which the vine of love grows; but it is the elm on which it climbs up and ripens its delicious fruits.
   (Heribert Rau, German non-denominational pastor, 1813–1876)
2. We have so great an idea of the human soul that we cannot bear to be despised, or to be under the disesteem of any soul, and all the happiness of men consists in that esteem.
   (Blaise Pascal, French mathematician. 1623–1662)
3. It is proof of a narrow mind when things worthy of esteem are distinguished from things worthy of love. Great minds naturally love whatever is worthy of their esteem.
   (Luc de Clapiers, French philosopher, 1715–1747)
4. A handful of esteem is better than a bushel of gold.
   (German proverb)
5. Devotion is, in some degree, related to affection, though mainly consisting of reverence, often combined with fear.
   (Charles Darwin, English naturalist, 1809–1882)
6. People worthy of respect are those who have earned your respect.
   (Unknown)
7. Reputation and respect must come from oneself; they are the impression our person makes upon others.
   (Albert Bitzius, Swiss writer, 1797–1854)

Wisdoms about Respect

Wisdoms about Respect

Here you will find words of wisdom around the theme of respect. Let the following proverbs inspire you to have more respect and appreciation that you can pass on to nature and those around you.

In terms of content, they are about recognizing that there are more important things on this planet than yourself, as well as the opportunities having respect can offer.

1. Every animal, even the smallest, hangs onto what little bit of life it has.
   (Chinese proverb)
2. All beings tremble before violence. All fear death, all love life. See yourself in others. Then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?
   (Buddhist proverb)
3. Draw your bow, but don’t shoot. It is a bigger threat to be intimidated than to be hit.
   (Chinese proverb)
4. The higher man is more embittered when others ignore him.
   (Asian proverb)
5. Kiss the hand you cannot bite.
   (Abu Shakur Balkhi, Persian poet, circa 915 A.D.)
6. Never bow to authority, but always tip your hat to it.
   (Unknown)
7. Yield to your superior.
   (Latin proverb)

Here you’ll find more inspirational quotes.

Funny Quotes about Respect

Funny Quotes about Respect

To conclude, here you will find some funny quotes revolving around the theme of respect. In addition to sarcastic sayings and loose comparisons, you will also find little jokes in this category. If you want to approach the topic in a humorous way, choosing one of these quotes is the best choice.

1. Gen. Grant’s cigar won for him more victories than his sword.
   (Prentice Mulford, American journalist, 1836–1891)
2. They insult him, but always with a certain amount of respect – throwing feces at him with their right hand and holding their hat in their left.
   (Heinrich Heine, German poet, 1797–1856)
3. Awe: respect with the mouth wide open.
   (Unknown)
4. The youth of the present day are quite monstrous. They have absolutely no respect for dyed hair.
   (Oscar Wilde, Irish writer, 1854–1900)

Poems about Respect and Decency

Poems about Respect and Decency

If a few more words are needed, then here you will find three poems about respect and disrespect.
The poems are intended as appeals to more respectful interaction in society, respect to nature as well as self-respect.

Let the poems listed here motivate you to be a respectable member of society and to show more trust, appreciation and honesty to others.

1)

Wealth and Want

How often the poor are despised and neglected,
For no other reason except they are poor;
How often the rich are beloved and respected,
Because they have uncounted wealth at their door.

There’s many an honest and virtuous heart,
To-day within poverty’s prison enchained;
While thousands reside amid pleasures of art,
Whose wealth was thro’ vice and dishonesty gained.

Despise not the needy because they are poor,
Nor envy the wealthy because of their gold;
Good or ill fortune may stand at our door,
But true hearts are not to be purchased or sold.

(Henry Reed Conant, American poet, 1872–?)

2)

Advice

Advice

I must do as you do? Your own way I own
Is a very good way. And still,
There are sometimes two straight roads to a town,
One over, one under the hill.

You are treading the safe and the well-worn way
That the prudent choose each time;
And you think me reckless and rash to-day
Because I prefer to climb.

3)

Lost

Lost

And so when we are lost in the great maze of life,
And wander through the streets of this world feeling
That the familiar path is gone,
When we see no landmark of duty,
No inspiring light of attractive work,
And know not where we are,
Then, if our trust in God does not fail us,
We learn lessons we should not otherwise gain.
We learn self-direction or humility;
We learn to cast our care on Him who cares for us;
We learn to be grateful for every kindness that others can do us,
And to respect all forms of life,
And call no man common.

(James Freeman Clarke, American minister, 1810–1888)

Tips for Using Quotes about Respect

Tips for Using Quotes about Respect

Quotes about respect can be used in all situations, because it never does any harm to remind those around you to treat others with respect.

The opportunity to use them will most likely arise when you witness either disrespectful behavior or very respectable behavior.

The quotes here can either act as comments of approval or as critical remarks on what you have witnessed.

If you yourself feel that the people around you do not show you enough respect or even treat you disdainfully, you can use these quotes to illustrate to them how important respectful interaction is. Actively demand respect for yourself and make it clear that you have earned it.

You don’t have to justify why you relate to your chosen quote and you can also choose several quotes that you feel speak for you.

Write them on your pinboard, immortalize your self-chosen mantra on respect on your mirror, or write them on your calendar. This way, you can show yourself some self-love while also improving your self-esteem.

Sayings and quotes about respect are also great for sending to friends and family. Use them to illustrate your gratitude for your respectful relationships.

For example, you can write a handwritten letter and spruce it up with these quotes about respect. Show them that you respect them, and thank them for the respect they have shown you.

Because even though respect should really be an integral part of healthy relationships and friendships, people unfortunately neglect to show it adequately. Which makes it all the nicer when respectful interaction is still appreciated.

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