---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True respect means taking other people's…"
description: "\"True respect means taking other people's beliefs seriously and assuming they are adult and intelligent enough to be able to cope with it if you tell th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/julian-baggini-3081_able_true-respect-means-taking-other-people-s_152723.png"
---

#  True respect means taking other people's beliefs seriously…

![“True respect means taking other people's beliefs seriously and assuming they are adult and intelligent enough to be able to cope with it if you tell them, clearly and civility, why you think they are totally, utterly and disastrously wrong.” quote by Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/julian-baggini-3081_able_true-respect-means-taking-other-people-s_152723.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/julian-baggini-3081_able_true-respect-means-taking-other-people-s_152723.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/julian-baggini-3081_able_true-respect-means-taking-other-people-s_152723.png)

> “True respect means taking other people's beliefs seriously and assuming they are adult and intelligent enough to be able to cope with it if you tell them, clearly and civility, why you think they are totally, utterly and disastrously wrong.”

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Respect involves seriously considering others’ beliefs, treating them as capable adults, and explaining disagreements with clarity and civility.

**In simple terms:** Take others’ beliefs seriously and explain disagreements politely.

Key Takeaway

Engage respectfully, assuming adult rationality.

Themes

respect dialogue intellectual humility

Mood

thoughtful balanced

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

- debates
- interpersonal conflicts
- public discussions

Key Concepts

critical thinking civil discourse empathy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we ensure respectful disagreement?
- What if beliefs are harmful?

A Different Perspective

People may still feel attacked despite civility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Civility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civility/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [“True respect means accepting someone and honoring his or her thoughts and feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chana-levitan/true-respect-means-accepting-someone-and-honoring-his-or-her-thoughts/)

Chana Levitan

> [“True respect respects all men, it values all people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/true-respect-respects-all-men-it-values-all-people/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [Self respect comes from self love. If you have neither, you will never have good love nor any true respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/self-respect-comes-from-self-love-if-you-have-neither-you-will-never/)

Enhance Dreams

> [Few maxims are true in every respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/few-maxims-are-true-in-every-respect/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Be sure your love is true Show respect and honestly Hold on what is good,and hate what is sin..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/be-sure-your-love-is-true-show-respect-and-honestly-hold-on-what-is/)

[Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/)

> [“True respect and trust grow when we honor our words with consistent actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayoub-imilouane/true-respect-and-trust-grow-when-we-honor-our-words-with-consistent/)

[Ayoub Imilouane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayoub-imilouane/)

> [“Compromise is most likely when both parties respect each other no matter how much they disagree. In stressful situations where you need a consensus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-carson/compromise-is-most-likely-when-both-parties-respect-each-other-no/)

[Ben Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-carson/)

> [They said they respect me, which means, their judgment is crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-said-they-respect-me-which-means-their-judgment-is-crazy/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [ “\[80\] Respect means; put yourself out. That may look pointless, but it is quite right, because it amounts to saying: I should certainly put… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/80-respect-means-put-yourself-out-that-may-look-pointless-but-it-is/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Money means a lot of respect. It means a lot of accomplishment and a lot of hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/money-means-a-lot-of-respect-it-means-a-lot-of-accomplishment-and-a/)

[Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/)

> [If you have a right to respect, that means other people don't have a right to their own opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/if-you-have-a-right-to-respect-that-means-other-people-don-t-have-a/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [“Being insulted again and again it doesn't mean that you haven't self respect. It means that you value someone most.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-rai/being-insulted-again-and-again-it-doesn-t-mean-that-you-haven-t-self/)

[Abhishek Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-rai/)

> [Love thy neighbor is difficult. That's why everybody - wars, you know. It's the hardest. And it's the most important. And respect thy neighbor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/love-thy-neighbor-is-difficult-that-s-why-everybody-wars-you-know-it/)

[Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/)

> [There can be no love without respect. Respect means respecting and keeping in mind the other persons likes and dislikes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/there-can-be-no-love-without-respect-respect-means-respecting-and/)

Senoraroy

> [“Dear, Rich Indian, Please pardon me If I hurt your humanity. Don’t dare to think that, people respect you, for the brand you wear?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-dutta/dear-rich-indian-please-pardon-me-if-i-hurt-your-humanity-don-t-dare/)

[G.K. Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-dutta/)

## More by Julian Baggini

> [I don't think there is ever a direct connection between the philosophical community and the wider populus. I'm very aware of this because I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/i-don-t-think-there-is-ever-a-direct-connection-between-the/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [Anger clearly has its proper place at work, which is neither wholly absent nor ever present. The manager who is an emotional blank is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/anger-clearly-has-its-proper-place-at-work-which-is-neither-wholly/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [I don't feel proprietorial about the problems of philosophy. History has taught us that many philosophical issues can grow up, leave home and live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/i-don-t-feel-proprietorial-about-the-problems-of-philosophy-history/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [We do wrong willfully when we fail to think hard about whether what we're doing is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/we-do-wrong-willfully-when-we-fail-to-think-hard-about-whether-what/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [It may not have the virtuous ring of the golden rule, but the maxim 'never say never' is one of the most important in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/it-may-not-have-the-virtuous-ring-of-the-golden-rule-but-the-maxim/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [I'm not one of these people who is sour about academia. I'm very lucky not to be in academia, but I am an absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/i-m-not-one-of-these-people-who-is-sour-about-academia-i-m-very-lucky/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [“Working out whether or not the claims you make in your premises are true, while important, is simply not enough to ensure that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/working-out-whether-or-not-the-claims-you-make-in-your-premises-are/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [Real life is about accepting ups and downs, the good and the bad, the possibility of failure as well as the ambition to succeed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/real-life-is-about-accepting-ups-and-downs-the-good-and-the-bad-the/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [“Philosophy without criticism is like hunting deer without a shotgun, so, if you want people to like you, avoid robust philosophical debate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/philosophy-without-criticism-is-like-hunting-deer-without-a-shotgun/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [Looking out over the port of Dover, with the endless steam of boats coming in and out, every British citizen is reminded that belonging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/looking-out-over-the-port-of-dover-with-the-endless-steam-of-boats/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [If you believe you are right, then you should believe that you can make the case that you're right. This requires you to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/if-you-believe-you-are-right-then-you-should-believe-that-you-can/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [“You know what a word means when you know how to use it, not what its definition is. That is why we can understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/you-know-what-a-word-means-when-you-know-how-to-use-it-not-what-its/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [Daily life is better when it involves interactions with real people who have a personal investment in their labour, like shopkeepers, than it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/daily-life-is-better-when-it-involves-interactions-with-real-people/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [“the meaning of life is not some kind of answer, which, once learned, is forever possessed. For life to stay meaningful it must continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/the-meaning-of-life-is-not-some-kind-of-answer-which-once-learned-is/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

> [Believers are right when they say that to understand a religion properly you need to get under its skin. But to understand it fully,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/believers-are-right-when-they-say-that-to-understand-a-religion/)

[Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

[Explore all 140 Julian Baggini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/)

## More Able quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

Greg Perry

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

Browse all 17,257 Able quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "True respect means taking other people's beliefs seriously and assuming they are adult and intelligent enough to be able to cope with it if you tell them, clearly and civility, why you think they are totally, utterly and disastrously wrong.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Julian Baggini"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/true-respect-means-taking-other-people-s-beliefs-seriously-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/true-respect-means-taking-other-people-s-beliefs-seriously-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/julian-baggini-3081_able_true-respect-means-taking-other-people-s_152723.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/julian-baggini-3081_able_true-respect-means-taking-other-people-s_152723.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/julian-baggini-3081_able_true-respect-means-taking-other-people-s_152723.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“True respect means taking other people's beliefs seriously and assuming they are adult and intelligent…” — Julian Baggini",
                "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": "Julian Baggini",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "True respect means taking other people's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/true-respect-means-taking-other-people-s-beliefs-seriously-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/true-respect-means-taking-other-people-s-beliefs-seriously-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
