A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will

Billy Graham, preacher to nations and shepherd of souls, once proclaimed with timeless wisdom: “A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect for anyone.” In this saying lies not merely advice for families, but the seed of a truth as old as civilization itself: that respect begins in the home, that the honoring of father and mother is the root from which all reverence for others grows. If the root is poisoned, the tree cannot bear good fruit.

The meaning of Graham’s words is clear. A child first learns the world not from books, nor from teachers, but from the household. The parents are the first rulers, the first teachers, the first guides of life. If a child is permitted to defy them without correction, to treat them with scorn or mockery, he learns that authority is a thing to be despised. And if he despises the authority closest to him, how shall he honor the laws of the land, the wisdom of elders, or the dignity of his fellow man? Disrespect, once planted, grows wild and unchecked.

The origin of this teaching reaches back to sacred texts and ancient wisdom. In the Ten Commandments, one finds the law: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long.” Confucius too taught filial piety as the cornerstone of virtue, declaring that a society that neglects respect within the family cannot flourish. Graham’s words echo this ancient chorus: the respect we show in childhood forms the respect we carry into adulthood. To dishonor one’s parents is to begin life by severing the very foundation of reverence.

History provides a shining example in the life of George Washington. It is said that his respect for his mother shaped his character of discipline and integrity. Though his mother was stern and demanding, he honored her throughout his life, and from that honor grew his ability to respect the sacrifices of soldiers, the voices of his peers, and the hopes of his people. Washington, father of a nation, first learned to be a son of respect. His greatness in the world was rooted in his reverence at home.

Yet history also shows us the ruin born of disrespect. In the fall of the Roman Empire, moral decay spread as families weakened, discipline collapsed, and children learned to despise both parents and tradition. Without the foundation of respect, society crumbled from within, until Rome, once mighty, became prey to the very forces it once commanded. Here we see Graham’s warning fulfilled: if the child does not respect the parent, in time no one respects anyone, and order is lost.

O children of tomorrow, take this wisdom to heart. If you are a child, honor your parents not only for their perfection, for they are flawed as all mortals are, but for their sacrifice, for their labor, for the gift of life they gave you. If you are a parent, do not allow disrespect to grow unchecked in your household, for by tolerating it you do not show mercy—you plant rebellion that will spread into every corner of your child’s life. Discipline given in love is not cruelty; it is the safeguard of the soul.

The lesson is plain: respect in the home is the beginning of respect in the world. Practice it daily. Speak with kindness to your parents, even when you disagree. Show gratitude for their sacrifices, even when unseen. And if you are a parent, model respect yourself, that your children may learn from your example. For a child who learns to honor his family will grow to honor his neighbor, his community, and humanity itself.

Thus let Billy Graham’s words echo across generations: “A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect for anyone.” Treasure this wisdom, for within it lies the path to harmony in families, stability in societies, and dignity in all human life. Respect begins in the home, but its fruit nourishes the entire world.