Does Everyone "Deserve" Respect?

Dignity is not circumstantial.How do you live a life of excellence and honor
Kotoda Yahei Toshisadawithout making others feel inferior? The answer lies
Have you ever noticed how, if a football teamin respect. You have to treat them with respect,
develops into a dynasty, everyone wants to seeeven if you don't really respect their lifestyle choices
them get beat? This is because nobody likes to feelor their actions. This is not being hypocritical. It is
inferior to anyone else, and a team who hassimply treating others as you would have them treat
practiced, worked, and grabbed hold of excellence,you. Inside, you may know that men of honor, who
makes those who have not, feel inferior. The samelive the warrior lifestyle, deserve more respect and
principle applies to individuals. Those who havereverence than those who don't, but this fact
developed their lives to the point of excellence, makedoesn't mean that you shouldn't treat others with
others who have not, feel inferior, unless they arerespect as well. Treat everyone with a certain
very careful about how they carry themselves.degree of respect.
Noblemen discipline themselves to be dignified at allEach action [of the warrior] is performed from a
times.place of fundamental wisdom...
Matsura SeizenIt is completely different from the ordinary behavior
The warrior should develop his life to the point ofof a fool.
excellence, while at the same time living in such aEven if it looks the same, it is different on the inside.
way as to not make those who haven't feel inferior.Takuan Soho
Yes, this is a tall order on both accounts. It is hardMoreover, you don't have to actually respect
enough to live the life of the superior man who hassomeone in order to treat that person with respect.
worked to develop his character through many hoursThis is a fact that takes a little getting used to for
of discipline and training, but once you start to feelmost people. You can have very little or no respect
that you are making progress, it can be even harderat all for someone, and yet still treat them with
not to make others feel inferior. You have to watchrespect. No, this is not being hypocritical. This is simply
what you say and how you treat those who are lessliving according to your own standards, standards
inclined to live a life of honor.which require you to treat people in a certain way,
People hate those who make them feel their ownwhether they are your enemy or your best friend.
inferiority.You live your life by certain decorum regardless of
Lord Chesterfieldhow other people live.
Those who do not live by a code of honor or revereThe man of principle never forgets what he is,
integrity and character, many times look down onbecause of what others are.
those who do. They will ridicule you for your strongBaltasar Gracian
beliefs in the warrior lifestyle. The warrior lifestyleTreating others with a certain amount of respect and
simply does not make any sense to them. Whenmanners has nothing to do with their actions; it has
they hear you discuss things such as honor, respect,to do with how you have decided to live your life.
your code of ethics, doing right, etc., they feel as ifDoes everyone deserve respect and honor? No, not
you are talking down to them or that you feel likein my opinion. Should everyone be treated with
you are better than them. Nobody likes to feelrespect and good manners? Absolutely. There is a
inferior, and they despise those who make them feeldifference in what someone deserves and in how the
that they are not living their life to their full potential.warrior should treat them. Treating someone with
You cannot talk to a frog in a well about the vastrespect and manners says something about you, not
sea;about what they deserve. What do you want your
He is limited to his area of space.actions to say about you?
A summer insect has no knowledge of snow;The warrior acts first according to his heart and his
It knows nothing beyond its own season.sense of righteousness.
Chiu Shu