--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People say, 'Respect your elders,' but I…" description: "\"People say, 'Respect your elders,' but I always go, 'Respect your young people because they are our future.'\" — Booker T" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/booker-t-5410_aging_people-say-respect-your-elders-but-i-alw_115180.jpg" --- # People say, 'Respect your elders,' but I always go… ![“People say, 'Respect your elders,' but I always go, 'Respect your young people because they are our future.'” quote by Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/booker-t-5410_aging_people-say-respect-your-elders-but-i-alw_115180.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/booker-t-5410_aging_people-say-respect-your-elders-but-i-alw_115180.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/booker-t-5410_aging_people-say-respect-your-elders-but-i-alw_115180.jpg) > “People say, 'Respect your elders,' but I always go, 'Respect your young people because they are our future.'” [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True respect should prioritize the younger generation, as they shape the future, rather than merely honoring age. **In simple terms:** Respect youth for their future impact. Key Takeaway Future‑oriented respect outweighs tradition alone. Themes respect generational equity future values Mood inspirational thoughtful Type social commentary motivational quote When to use this quote - education policy - community mentorship - leadership training Key Concepts intergenerational dynamics Practical Applications - create youth‑focused mentorship programs - reframe organizational values Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance respect for elders and youth? - What practical steps foster youth empowerment? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Elders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elders/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Elders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-elders/) [Respect Your Elders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-your-elders/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [Do the right things, respect your elders, respect your teachers, continue to work hard, and if you are religious and you have some type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-ha-clinton-dix/do-the-right-things-respect-your-elders-respect-your-teachers/) [Ha Ha Clinton-Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-ha-clinton-dix/) > [We must respect their culture and to respect your elders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/we-must-respect-their-culture-and-to-respect-your-elders/) Mak\_786 > [“The earth is over a million years old; respect your elders.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-anderson/the-earth-is-over-a-million-years-old-respect-your-elders/) Deanna Anderson > [“respect your elders around you because they are born and have walked the path before you… you could ever imagine that you are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brijesh-singh/respect-your-elders-around-you-because-they-are-born-and-have-walked/) [brijesh singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brijesh-singh/) > [“few simple rules: respect your elders, take care of your body, finish what you start, and solve your own problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/few-simple-rules-respect-your-elders-take-care-of-your-body-finish/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [Respect your elders. They made it through school without Google and Wikipedia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/respect-your-elders-they-made-it-through-school-without-google-and/) Enhance Dreams > [“He had a few simple rules: respect your elders, take care of your body, finish what you start, and solve your own problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/he-had-a-few-simple-rules-respect-your-elders-take-care-of-your-body/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [As human beings we value the experience that comes with age. We are reminded over and over again with statements like 'older and wiser'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/as-human-beings-we-value-the-experience-that-comes-with-age-we-are/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [Respect my elders? I respect whoever respects me, regardless of age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/respect-my-elders-i-respect-whoever-respects-me-regardless-of-age/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [I was raised to show respect. I wasn't dragged up, I was taught to knock before I open a door. Say hello when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-raised-to-show-respect-i-wasn-t-dragged-up-i-was-taught-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Respect your elders because one day you will be old too. -](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/respect-your-elders-because-one-day-you-will-be-old-too/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When your elders are millennia-old demigods, you’d best take the injunction to respect your elders seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalo-hopkinson/when-your-elders-are-millennia-old-demigods-you-d-best-take-the/) [Nalo Hopkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalo-hopkinson/) > [I'd told Taker before the promo that I was gonna stick it to him and he told me to go for it. However, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/i-d-told-taker-before-the-promo-that-i-was-gonna-stick-it-to-him-and/) [Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/) > [I was always taught to respect my elders and I've now reached the age when I don't have anybody to respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-always-taught-to-respect-my-elders-and-i-ve-now-reached-the-age/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was brought up to respect my elders, so now I don't have to respect anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/i-was-brought-up-to-respect-my-elders-so-now-i-don-t-have-to-respect/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) ## More by Booker T > [Baltimore is a great wrestling town.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/baltimore-is-a-great-wrestling-town/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [I know I'm not going to be working with the WWE forever. That's why I'm going to be the Mayor of the city of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/i-know-i-m-not-going-to-be-working-with-the-wwe-forever-that-s-why-i/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [Most people who are not of color, their parents didn't need to tell them how to act around police or what to do if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/most-people-who-are-not-of-color-their-parents-didn-t-need-to-tell/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [We, as a people, we gotta know when it's time to speak up and when it's time to shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/we-as-a-people-we-gotta-know-when-it-s-time-to-speak-up-and-when-it-s/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [That's what cool about me being here and still being in the wrestling business. I can still give back, even being in the announcer's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/that-s-what-cool-about-me-being-here-and-still-being-in-the-wrestling/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [At the end of the day, it is about taking care of your family. Going out and doing the job like Stevie Ray would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/at-the-end-of-the-day-it-is-about-taking-care-of-your-family-going/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [Me personally, I know I've made mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/me-personally-i-know-i-ve-made-mistakes/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [I do not see Dean Ambrose leaving WWE to go somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/i-do-not-see-dean-ambrose-leaving-wwe-to-go-somewhere-else/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [You can become a star overnight, guys. You can be on the street walking one day, and you're on your way to the corner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/you-can-become-a-star-overnight-guys-you-can-be-on-the-street-walking/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [Muhammad Ali was my idol, and I always say, if Muhammad Ali had told me the exact same thing my mother, the principal, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/muhammad-ali-was-my-idol-and-i-always-say-if-muhammad-ali-had-told-me/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [The nWo almost singlehandedly ruined the business as far as good guys, bad guys, cowboys, and Indians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/the-nwo-almost-singlehandedly-ruined-the-business-as-far-as-good-guys/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [If we truly want to make America great, we need to fix this racial inequality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/if-we-truly-want-to-make-america-great-we-need-to-fix-this-racial/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [Oh, man, first part of my career was awesome: having my big brother Steve Ray - he's my blood brother, my real brother -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/oh-man-first-part-of-my-career-was-awesome-having-my-big-brother/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [Personally, I'm not a Republican, and I'm not a Democrat. People need to stop focusing on becoming part of a party and instead voting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/personally-i-m-not-a-republican-and-i-m-not-a-democrat-people-need-to/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [People really don't understand how hard it is and what it takes to be a WWE Superstar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/people-really-don-t-understand-how-hard-it-is-and-what-it-takes-to-be/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) [Explore all 101 Booker T quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) ## More Aging quotes > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [We'll never be as young as we are tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ll-never-be-as-young-as-we-are-tonight/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [So often do you see collegians enter life with high resolve and lofty purpose and then watch them shrink and shrink to sordid, selfish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/so-often-do-you-see-collegians-enter-life-with-high-resolve-and-lofty/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [“You could see the signs of female aging as diseased, especially if you had a vested interest in making women too see them your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/you-could-see-the-signs-of-female-aging-as-diseased-especially-if-you/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [“It takes maturity to be able to laugh like a child again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/it-takes-maturity-to-be-able-to-laugh-like-a-child-again/) [Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Growing old-it's not nice, but it's interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/growing-old-it-s-not-nice-but-it-s-interesting/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Anything is possible in the life of a man if he lives long enough. Even maturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howell-raines/anything-is-possible-in-the-life-of-a-man-if-he-lives-long-enough/) [Howell Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howell-raines/) > [I just want to be Patty McCormack. I want to spend every year aging the way she has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-just-want-to-be-patty-mccormack-i-want-to-spend-every-year-aging/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Maturity is reached the day we don't need to be lied to about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-yerby/maturity-is-reached-the-day-we-don-t-need-to-be-lied-to-about-anything/) [Frank Yerby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-yerby/) [Browse all 2,792 Aging quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People say, 'Respect your elders,' but I always go, 'Respect your young people because they are our future.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Booker T" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/people-say-respect-your-elders-but-i-always-go-respect-your-young/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aging" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/people-say-respect-your-elders-but-i-always-go-respect-your-young/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/booker-t-5410_aging_people-say-respect-your-elders-but-i-alw_115180.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/booker-t-5410_aging_people-say-respect-your-elders-but-i-alw_115180.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/booker-t-5410_aging_people-say-respect-your-elders-but-i-alw_115180.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People say, 'Respect your elders,' but I always go, 'Respect your young people because they are our future.'” — Booker T", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Booker T", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People say, 'Respect your elders,' but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/people-say-respect-your-elders-but-i-always-go-respect-your-young/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/people-say-respect-your-elders-but-i-always-go-respect-your-young/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```