--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Above all things, one should maintain his…" description: "\"Above all things, one should maintain his self-respect, and there is but one way to do that, and that is to live in accordance with your highest ideal...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/robert-green-ingersoll-361_all-things_above-all-things-one-should-maintain-his_1928475.png" --- # Above all things, one should maintain his self-respect… ![“Above all things, one should maintain his self-respect, and there is but one way to do that, and that is to live in accordance with your highest ideal.” quote by Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/robert-green-ingersoll-361_all-things_above-all-things-one-should-maintain-his_1928475.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/robert-green-ingersoll-361_all-things_above-all-things-one-should-maintain-his_1928475.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/robert-green-ingersoll-361_all-things_above-all-things-one-should-maintain-his_1928475.png) > “Above all things, one should maintain his self-respect, and there is but one way to do that, and that is to live in accordance with your highest ideal.” [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑respect stems from living according to one's highest ideals, which guides moral conduct and personal integrity. **In simple terms:** Live by your highest ideals to keep self‑respect. Key Takeaway Align actions with your highest ideals. Themes ethics self‑respect philosophy personal growth Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - leadership - education - mentorship Key Concepts virtue ethics integrity idealism Questions to Reflect On - What are your highest ideals? - How can you act on them daily? A Different Perspective Idealism may clash with practical constraints and societal pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accordance Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accordance-highest-2362279/) [All things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-things/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Live Accordance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-accordance-1407171/) [Maintain Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maintain-self-839009/) [One way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-way/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-way-502008/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-respect/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [If happiness is activity in accordance with excellence, it is reasonable that it should be in accordance with the highest excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/if-happiness-is-activity-in-accordance-with-excellence-it-is/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“let us act in accordance of our highest values and show the world just what we’re made of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-burchard/let-us-act-in-accordance-of-our-highest-values-and-show-the-world/) [Brendon Burchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-burchard/) > [“The goal that you hope you will one day arrive at after a long and roundabout journey you are able to possess right now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-goal-that-you-hope-you-will-one-day-arrive-at-after-a-long-and/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [To live in accordance with how one thinks. 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Alag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-s-alag/) > [“After we eat of the Apple of Knowledge, however, all of us start to be aware of ourselves, and our consciousness starts to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/after-we-eat-of-the-apple-of-knowledge-however-all-of-us-start-to-be/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [If someone does not treat according to your merit,never drop down your level,just know you are better & maintain your self entity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/if-someone-does-not-treat-according-to-your-merit-never-drop-down/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [To have self confidence is great, but to maintain self confidence is even greater. - G.S. 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Without Liberty, there can be no civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/liberty-is-the-condition-of-progress-without-liberty-there-remains/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [It has been said that a man of genius should select his ancestors with great care - and yet there does not seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-has-been-said-that-a-man-of-genius-should-select-his-ancestors/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [In spite of my surroundings, of my education, I had no love for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/in-spite-of-my-surroundings-of-my-education-i-had-no-love-for-god/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The combined wisdom and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of an argument against liberty of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-combined-wisdom-and-genius-of-all-mankind-cannot-possibly/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, except the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/calvin-founded-a-little-theocracy-modeled-after-the-old-testament-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I do not believe in loving enemies; I have pretty hard work to love my friends. 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