Difference Between Respect and Honor

Respect vs Honor

Respect and honor are often used interchangeably and, often, they may seem synonymous with each other. However they can be greatly differentiated as to how they are conveyed and their importance in to our everyday lives.

Respect

Respect is when we provide an ethical value to the person in such a degree that they are highly esteemed in terms of personal perspective. It is more on looking to the qualities of the person which is highly commendable and which defies his personality. Respect also transcends the character of a person but it also involves how one gives respect to his society, history and culture. One can always give respect to his practices and customs.

Honor

Honor is more on the assessment of a person’s social status and degree. It is based on a person’s achievements and notable works in the society, which deserves to be applauded. It can also mean holding a position that is not easily gained by normal people, such as in politics or other esteemed titles. This is based more on social appraisal and not really withstanding much of the person’s character.

Difference between Respect and Honor

Differentiating these two might be tricky than it seems. For one, it is regarded that honor is higher than respect, in such a way that everyone that you give honor to is already respected, while you may not necessarily honor all the people that you respect. This can be broken down to the fact that respect is a subjective perception of one person to the other, based on their personal beliefs and principle. While honor, on the other hand, is already a predetermined value of what is vital in a person’s status in the society.

It is ideal that we can provide both respect and honor to individuals who not only helped us in their own way but has also inspired us to better ourselves. However it is better not to fall victims on these so called categories in our community in order to gain honor. After all, the most important thing would be pure intention and goodwill.