It is so important to get respect for what you do and at the same

The words of Estelle Parsons — "It is so important to get respect for what you do and at the same time give it." — resound like a law inscribed upon the pillars of human fellowship. For what is the bond between souls, if not respect? It is the bridge that unites worker to worker, teacher to student, leader to follower, and friend to friend. Without it, even the greatest talents are left barren, unrecognized and unshared. With it, even the smallest task shines with honor, and the humblest laborer becomes noble in the eyes of the world.

To receive respect is the yearning of the human heart. Every craftsman longs to know that his work is not in vain, that the sweat of his brow bears weight in the eyes of others. Yet Parsons reminds us that the circle is incomplete unless we also give respect. For when honor flows in only one direction, it corrupts — it becomes pride in the one and resentment in the other. The true wisdom lies in balance: to honor the gifts of others as you yourself wish to be honored.

Consider the story of Florence Nightingale, who entered the blood-soaked tents of the Crimean War when others turned away. She cleaned, she cared, she healed. At first, she was mocked and belittled; the military men did not respect her. Yet she gave respect even to the soldiers who doubted her, treating each with dignity. In time, the army and the world bowed to her courage. Her greatness came not from demanding honor alone, but from giving it freely, even before it was offered to her.

Respect, then, is not a crown to be seized, but a seed to be sown. The wise know that if you would be honored, you must first honor others. This is the law of reciprocity, as old as the stars: what you cast forth into the hearts of men will return to you, pressed down and overflowing. To deny respect to others while demanding it for yourself is to poison your own well. But to grant respect generously is to ensure that the well never runs dry.

Parsons’s words speak also to the humility of true greatness. To get respect for what you do is not to boast or parade, but to live in such a way that your deeds cannot be denied. And to give respect is to recognize that no person, however small, is without value. The mighty falter when they scorn the humble, and the humble rise when they honor the mighty. The balance sustains the harmony of human society.

The lesson is this: live as one who gives before he receives. Respect the laborer, the artist, the teacher, the mother, the stranger. Honor not only the crown but also the hand that builds it, the voice that sings it, the soil that feeds it. And when your own work is done with integrity, you shall find that respect returns to you unbidden, like the sun rising after a long night.

What then should one do in practice? Begin with small acts. Acknowledge the unseen work of others. Speak words of gratitude to those whose efforts sustain your life. Refuse to belittle or mock, even in jest, for every jest wounds deeper than it seems. And in your own labor, strive not only for success, but for integrity, so that when others look upon your work, they are moved not to envy, but to reverence.

For in the end, respect is the coin that does not rust, the wealth that does not fade. To get respect and to give it is to live in alignment with the eternal laws of dignity, justice, and love. Let this teaching be a lamp for your steps: give honor where you can, and you will walk a path where honor is always returned.