Character Quotables: Respect
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“There is no such thing as being a gentleman at important moments; it is at unimportant moments that a man is a gentleman….If once his mind is possessed in any strong degree with the knowledge that he is a gentleman, he will soon cease to be one.”
“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.”
“This is the final test of a gentleman: his respect for those who can be of no possible value to him.”
“Respect is love in action.”
“We don’t need to share the same opinions as others, but we need to be respectful.”
“I firmly believe that respect is a lot more important, and a lot greater, than popularity.”
“Our deep respect for the land and its harvest is the legacy of generations of farmers who put food on our tables, preserved our landscape, and inspired us with a powerful work ethic.”
“Respect is one of the greatest expressions of love.”
“Most good relationships are built on mutual trust and respect.”
“Politeness and consideration of others is like investing pennies and
getting dollars back.”
“Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, ‘Make me feel important.’ Never forget this message when working with people.”
“Nothing is ever lost by courtesy. It is the cheapest of pleasures costs nothing and conveys much.”
“Real strength entails being considerate and supportive of people’s feelings.”
“Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that’s real power.”
“And the greatest lesson that mom ever taught me though was this one. She told me there would be times in your life when you have to choose between being loved and being respected. Now she said to always pick being respected.”
“Be kind, don’t judge, and have respect for others. If we can all do this, the world would be a better place. The point is to teach this to the next generation.”
“I have a great deal of respect and admiration for people who put themselves on the line.”
“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being.”
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
“Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners.”
“Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people’s bad manners.”
“Life is short but there is always time enough for courtesy.”
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.”
“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.”
“Moral authority comes from following universal and timeless principles like honesty, integrity, treating people with respect.”
“The word ‘star’ doesn’t mean an awful lot to me. ‘Good actor’ and having the respect of one’s peers means more.”
“Rudeness is a weak man’s imitation of strength.”
“A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
“Why give in to rudeness, when you can fight back with kindness.”
“Friends and good manners will carry you where money won’t go.”
“Everyone should be respected as an individual, but no one idolized.”
“I have seen many storms in my life. Most storms have caught me by surprise, so I had to learn very quickly to look further and understand that I am not capable of controlling the weather, to exercise the art of patience and to respect the fury of nature.”
“Civilization is a method of living, an attitude of equal respect for all men.”
“Leadership is something you earn, something you’re chosen for. You can’t come in yelling, ‘I’m your leader!’ If it happens, it’s because the other guys respect you.”
“Our challenge for the future is that we realize we are very much a part of the earth’s ecosystem, and we must learn to respect and live according to the basic biological laws of nature.”
“The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does the reverse.”
“Good manners have much to do with the emotions. To make them ring true, one must feel them, not merely exhibit them.”
“Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.”
“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”
“To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater.”
“A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect for anyone.”
“Aging has a wonderful beauty and we should have respect for that.”
“I get asked a lot about my legacy. For me, it’s being a good teammate, having the respect of my teammates, having the respect of the coaches and players. That’s important to me.”
“The secret, Joey, is to know you’re somebody without thinking you’re somebody.”
“Every action in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those present.”
“Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don’t say.”
“When we treat people merely as they are, they will remain as they are. When we treat them as if they were what they should be, they will become what they should be.”
“Courtesy is a small act but it packs a mighty wallop.”
“Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear.”
“Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?”
“How do leaders serve their people? They may pay good wages and treat employees with respect.”
“Openness, respect, integrity – these are principles that need to underpin pretty much every other decision that you make.”
“If you don’t value and respect yourself, nobody else will.”
How can you use Quotes?
Start a discussion: Quotes can start a discussion about a character trait at the beginning of a meeting or the dinner table. You can ask questions about what it means, how they have seen the trait demonstrated in their own lives, or how they can develop it themselves.
Provide a model: Quotes can provide a model of good character. When you read a quote from a famous person or historical figure, you show that people they admire also value the same character traits.
Use quotes as writing/journal prompts: Ask them to write a short essay about a quote to help them think more deeply about its implications for their lives.
Post quotes: You can post quotes where they will be seen/heard often – classroom, breakroom, lobby, dining room, email signatures, video bulletin boards, morning announcements, social media, etc.
Read quotes aloud: You can read quotes aloud to your children during mealtimes, bedtime, or any other time you spend together.
Make it fun: You can make it even more fun by incorporating games, activities, or crafts. Let children decorate signs with the quotes to hang in the classroom or a bedroom door. Record children saying it and post it on social media.