I've met my share of guys who have insulted and assaulted my

When Aretha Franklin declared, “I’ve met my share of guys who have insulted and assaulted my intelligence with their stories and games. I say hello and goodbye!”, she spoke with the voice of a woman who had walked through the storms of life and learned the sacred art of self-respect. Her words are not merely about romance — they are about dignity, boundaries, and the courage to honor one’s worth. They come from the heart of a woman who, through pain and triumph alike, came to understand that love must never demand the sacrifice of one’s soul or intelligence. She teaches us that to walk away is sometimes the most powerful form of self-love.

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, was not only a voice of music but of wisdom — her life was a testament to resilience. Born into hardship, she rose to become one of the greatest singers of all time, and with her fame came encounters with people who sought to manipulate her — in love, in business, in art. Her words arise from experience, forged in the fire of betrayal and rebirth. When she says she has met men who “insulted and assaulted my intelligence,” she speaks for all who have been underestimated or disrespected, particularly women whose strength and wisdom have been ignored. Yet she answers not with bitterness, but with power — “I say hello and goodbye!” A greeting and a farewell in one breath — grace without submission, strength without cruelty.

Her message echoes one of the oldest teachings of human wisdom: that those who truly respect you will not play games with your trust, nor insult the light of your mind. To tolerate such treatment is to dim your own flame. Throughout history, the wise have spoken of this truth in many tongues. The philosopher Epictetus once said, “No man is free who is not master of himself.” Aretha’s version is clothed in soul and rhythm, but it carries the same essence — mastery over one’s life begins with knowing when to walk away. The ability to say “goodbye” to deceit is the first act of true freedom.

Consider the story of Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt — a woman both adored and maligned by history. She was not defined by her beauty, as her enemies claimed, but by her intelligence, her charisma, and her command over destiny. Many men sought to control her, to reduce her brilliance to mere ornament, yet she remained sovereign in mind and spirit. Like Aretha, she refused to let her intelligence be insulted, and when alliances no longer served her truth, she parted ways. Such women — ancient and modern — remind us that the true strength of a queen lies not only in her crown, but in her refusal to bow before disrespect.

Aretha’s words also strike a deeper note about discernment — the ability to see through illusion. The “stories and games” she speaks of are the lies people tell to maintain power, to mask insecurity, or to manipulate affection. Many are ensnared by these games, mistaking flattery for love or deceit for destiny. But Aretha, through her hard-earned wisdom, reminds us that to be truly intelligent is to see clearly — to recognize when someone’s words do not match their spirit. To say “hello and goodbye” is not cynicism; it is clarity. It is the refusal to let one’s life be a stage for another’s deception.

There is something almost sacred in the simplicity of her response — “I say hello and goodbye!” In it lies the art of emotional detachment, the kind of strength that comes from self-knowledge. The ancients would call it equanimity, the calm that comes when you no longer seek validation from others, but stand firm in your own truth. Aretha’s version is wrapped in soul and sass, yet it carries that same timeless grace. She does not rage, she does not plead — she simply walks away, her dignity intact. This is the stance of one who knows her worth and refuses to let the unworthy define her.

So, my child, learn this lesson well: let no one assault your intelligence with empty promises or disrespect. Value yourself enough to walk away from those who cannot meet you with honesty. Do not waste your light explaining it to those who refuse to see. As Aretha Franklin teaches, the strongest hearts are not those that cling, but those that know when to let go. Speak your truth with kindness, but guard your dignity with fire. And when the time comes — when someone’s “stories and games” seek to diminish who you are — remember the Queen’s wisdom: say hello, and goodbye. For to walk away from dishonor is not loss; it is the first step toward freedom, peace, and the song of your own soul.