--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One can show no greater respect than to…" description: "\"One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger.\" — Jose Saramago" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/jos-saramago-208_respect_one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to_28274.png" --- # One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger. ![“One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger.” quote by Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/jos-saramago-208_respect_one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to_28274.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/jos-saramago-208_respect_one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to_28274.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/jos-saramago-208_respect_one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to_28274.png) > “One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger.” [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion is the highest form of respect, expressed through genuine sorrow for another's suffering, even when they are unknown to us. **In simple terms:** Empathy as respect Key Takeaway Feeling for strangers shows true humanity Themes Compassion Respect Humanity Empathy Mood Reflective Compassionate Type Philosophical Moral When to use this quote - Witnessing a tragedy - Seeing someone in pain - Encountering a refugee Key Concepts Moral duty Emotional connection Practical Applications - Motivating charitable actions - Fostering inclusive community values Questions to Reflect On - How does feeling for a stranger differ from feeling for a loved one? - Can empathy for strangers be cultivated deliberately? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greater Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-respect-418662/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-weep-418661/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weep/) [Weep Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weep-stranger-418660/) ## Related quotes > [There is no way that anyone could experience a war and witness all the horror that it brings without gaining a greater respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/there-is-no-way-that-anyone-could-experience-a-war-and-witness-all/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [“I will never have greater respect than for the man that realizes he was wrong and graciously admits it without a single excuse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/i-will-never-have-greater-respect-than-for-the-man-that-realizes-he/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [When there is a respect for small things, there will be an even greater respect towards the bigger things. When there is no respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elder-paisios-of-mount-athos/when-there-is-a-respect-for-small-things-there-will-be-an-even/) [Elder Paisios of Mount Athos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elder-paisios-of-mount-athos/) > [“As the master creators on this planet, we can improve conditions for all and learn greater respect for others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/as-the-master-creators-on-this-planet-we-can-improve-conditions-for/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The way forward is always found through greater respect for the equal rights of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/the-way-forward-is-always-found-through-greater-respect-for-the-equal/) [Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/) > [Our desire to conform is greater than our respect for objective facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-drabble/our-desire-to-conform-is-greater-than-our-respect-for-objective-facts/) [Margaret Drabble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-drabble/) > [I've spent my life arguing for greater respect between men and women and anyone who takes the time to read my books or listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/i-ve-spent-my-life-arguing-for-greater-respect-between-men-and-women/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [The longer I live the greater is my respect for manure in all its forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/the-longer-i-live-the-greater-is-my-respect-for-manure-in-all-its/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [The reality is not that I lack respect for the law; it's that I have greater respect for justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-dechristopher/the-reality-is-not-that-i-lack-respect-for-the-law-it-s-that-i-have/) [Tim DeChristopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-dechristopher/) > [No player or manager has greater respect for the umpires than I do, and I have demonstrated that over the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/no-player-or-manager-has-greater-respect-for-the-umpires-than-i-do/) [Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/) > [No man is greater than his respect for sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/no-man-is-greater-than-his-respect-for-sleep/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [I think most of us would agree that people who have, say, little formal schooling but labor honestly and diligently to help feed, clothe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/i-think-most-of-us-would-agree-that-people-who-have-say-little-formal/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [people who pay greater respect to a wealthy villain than to an honest, upright man in poverty, almost deserve to be enslaved; they plainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hancock/people-who-pay-greater-respect-to-a-wealthy-villain-than-to-an-honest/) [John Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hancock/) > [I've developed a much greater respect for our politicians and every high-tech CEO. It's very easy to read about the things they did that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-saylor/i-ve-developed-a-much-greater-respect-for-our-politicians-and-every/) [Michael J. Saylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-saylor/) > [Every day we have to live our lives with greater respect and purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/every-day-we-have-to-live-our-lives-with-greater-respect-and-purpose/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) ## More by Jose Saramago > [“We are born, and at that moment, it is as if we had signed a pact for the rest of our life, but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/we-are-born-and-at-that-moment-it-is-as-if-we-had-signed-a-pact-for/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [It takes little or nothing to undo reputations, the merest trifle makes and remakes them, it is simply a question of finding the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-takes-little-or-nothing-to-undo-reputations-the-merest-trifle/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [I am not a prophet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-am-not-a-prophet/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [With the passage of time, as well as the social evolution and genetic exchange, we ended up putting our conscience in the color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/with-the-passage-of-time-as-well-as-the-social-evolution-and-genetic/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“Al día siguiente no murió nadie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/al-d-a-siguiente-no-muri-nadie/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“E se as histórias para crianças passassem a ser de leitura obrigatória para os adultos? Seriam eles capazes de aprender realmente o que há…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/e-se-as-hist-rias-para-crian-as-passassem-a-ser-de-leitura-obrigat/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [In a king, modesty would be a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/in-a-king-modesty-would-be-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“the inmates of the second ward in the right wing have decided, at long last, to bury their dead, at least we shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/the-inmates-of-the-second-ward-in-the-right-wing-have-decided-at-long/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“Stretching one arm behind him, the man passed his hand over the horse's coat, his own skin transformed, or skin which had transformed into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/stretching-one-arm-behind-him-the-man-passed-his-hand-over-the-horse/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [I think we are blind. Blind people who can see, but do not see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-think-we-are-blind-blind-people-who-can-see-but-do-not-see/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [...you have to leave the island in order to see the island, that we can't see ourselves unless we become free of ourselves, Unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/you-have-to-leave-the-island-in-order-to-see-the-island-that-we-can-t/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [anyone who gets up early by inclination or has been forced to rise early out of necessity finds it intolerable that others should go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/anyone-who-gets-up-early-by-inclination-or-has-been-forced-to-rise/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Society has to change, but the political powers we have at the moment are not enough to effect this change. The whole democratic system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/society-has-to-change-but-the-political-powers-we-have-at-the-moment/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“... aborrece os odores nocturnos, aquelas expansões do corpo a que nem poetas escapam".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/aborrece-os-odores-nocturnos-aquelas-expans-es-do-corpo-a-que-nem/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“BESIDES THE CONVERSATION of women, it is dreams that keep the world in orbit. But dreams also form a diadem of moons, therefore the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/besides-the-conversation-of-women-it-is-dreams-that-keep-the-world-in/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) [Explore all 487 Jose Saramago quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## More Respect quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [Few political debates have been as divisive as the European one. I fought as hard as I could on the Remain side, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/few-political-debates-have-been-as-divisive-as-the-european-one-i/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [The older you've gotten, the more respect and admiration you've received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/the-older-you-ve-gotten-the-more-respect-and-admiration-you-ve/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [I don't believe in an afterlife. I don't believe in a single or multiple godhead. I respect people who do, but I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-don-t-believe-in-an-afterlife-i-don-t-believe-in-a-single-or/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. Instead, commit your time to explaining who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-that-are/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [I request to God,, to every boy of the world, must provide at least two daughters,So that everyman, should be forced to learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/i-request-to-god-to-every-boy-of-the-world-must-provide-at-least-two/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/love-is-a-fruit-in-season-at-all-times-and-within-the-reach-of-every/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) [Browse all 16,669 Respect quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jose Saramago" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to-weep-for-a-stranger/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Respect" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to-weep-for-a-stranger/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/jos-saramago-208_respect_one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to_28274.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/jos-saramago-208_respect_one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to_28274.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/jos-saramago-208_respect_one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to_28274.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger.” — Jose Saramago", "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": "Jose Saramago", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One can show no greater respect...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to-weep-for-a-stranger/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to-weep-for-a-stranger/#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 } } ] } ```