You should respect the people you are around.

The words of Charli XCX—“You should respect the people you are around”—are simple, yet their simplicity conceals profound truth. They remind us of one of the oldest and most enduring principles of human life: that we are not solitary beings adrift in the world, but bound together in webs of community, friendship, and shared existence. To live without respect for those who surround us is to poison the very soil from which trust, harmony, and cooperation grow. To live with respect, however, is to nourish the spirit of fellowship and to strengthen the invisible bonds that hold families, teams, and nations together.

The ancients understood this with clarity. Confucius taught that all order, whether in the home, in government, or in the world, began with proper conduct between people. If a child did not honor a parent, if a neighbor did not treat another with dignity, then the fabric of society would unravel. In Rome, the Stoics urged men to remember that all people were citizens of a greater world, and therefore to treat others with fairness and regard. Charli XCX’s modern words echo this timeless wisdom: respect is the foundation upon which all other virtues rest, for without it, kindness becomes hollow and justice becomes impossible.

History offers powerful examples of what happens when respect is given—or denied. Consider Mahatma Gandhi, who faced a mighty empire not with weapons, but with the strength of respect for his fellow man, even for his oppressors. His refusal to return hatred for hatred disarmed those who sought to diminish him, and his conduct inspired millions. Contrast this with the cruelty of despots throughout history, who ruled by scorn and fear. Though they may have wielded power for a season, their lack of respect for those around them ensured that their empires crumbled in the dust.

In daily life, the teaching is just as vital. A leader who fails to respect the workers under him loses their loyalty; a teacher who mocks students destroys their trust; a friend who belittles companions weakens the bond of love. But the opposite is also true: a leader who shows regard for his people earns not just obedience, but devotion; a teacher who respects the struggles of pupils ignites their confidence; a friend who honors his companions strengthens ties that will endure hardship.

The heart of the matter lies in this: respect is not given because of status, wealth, or glory. It is given because every person bears dignity, simply by being human. To show respect to those around you is to affirm their worth and to create a space where they may grow into their best selves. In doing so, you also elevate yourself, for the one who gives respect is himself honored. The ancients would say: to live among others without respect is to live among shadows; to live with respect is to dwell among lights.

The lesson is clear: let us cultivate respect in every circle we walk—at home, at work, among friends, even among strangers. Do not take for granted those you are around, for they shape your life as much as you shape theirs. Look upon them not as obstacles or tools, but as companions in the shared journey of existence. Treat their voices as worthy of hearing, their struggles as worthy of compassion, their dignity as worthy of protection.

Therefore, let Charli XCX’s words be remembered not as casual advice, but as enduring counsel. “You should respect the people you are around.” For in showing respect, we water the roots of trust, we honor the sacredness of human connection, and we walk the path of harmony that the wise of every age have praised. Without it, we are divided and weakened; with it, we are uplifted, strong, and whole.