--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I respect the older guys." description: "\"I respect the older guys.\" — Shaquille O'Neal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-respect-the-older-guys-2512469_2512469.jpg" --- # I respect the older guys. ![“I respect the older guys.” quote by Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-respect-the-older-guys-2512469_2512469.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-respect-the-older-guys-2512469_2512469.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-respect-the-older-guys-2512469_2512469.jpg) > “I respect the older guys.” [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shows deference to older individuals, acknowledging their experience and wisdom. **In simple terms:** Respect elders for their experience. Key Takeaway Listen and learn from seniors. Themes respect experience humility learning Mood respectful reflective Type social personal When to use this quote - workplace mentorship - family advice - community leadership Key Concepts intergenerational wisdom social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - What can you learn from older peers? - When should you challenge senior advice? A Different Perspective May ignore the need for critical evaluation of authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guys/) [Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older/) [Older guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-guys/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-older-1017959/) [Respect The Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-the-old/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Respect the older folks even if they act like they don't deserve it, they have lived long enough to deserve some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/respect-the-older-folks-even-if-they-act-like-they-don-t-deserve-it/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [I'm the type of guy that always respect the older rappers who paved the way for us to get here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/playboi-carti/i-m-the-type-of-guy-that-always-respect-the-older-rappers-who-paved/) [Playboi Carti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/playboi-carti/) > [I'm a realist. I like to put it in business terms. I ran three different corporations my way and I was successful. But I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-a-realist-i-like-to-put-it-in-business-terms-i-ran-three/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [You know what's fun about basketball? It keeps evolving, and it keeps changing a little bit. And the older guys want to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/you-know-what-s-fun-about-basketball-it-keeps-evolving-and-it-keeps/) [Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/) > [Talk to the guys that ain't doing nothing, don't talk to me. I just want eight guys out there with me who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/talk-to-the-guys-that-ain-t-doing-nothing-don-t-talk-to-me-i-just/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [“he is not a member of us who does not show the mercy to smaller than him and respect to the older.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-is-not-a-member-of-us-who-does-not-show-the-mercy-to-smaller-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The less respect an older person deserves the more certain he is to demand it from anyone younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-less-respect-an-older-person-deserves-the-more-certain-he-is-to/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“I was young and physically fit and I struggled here, so I had a deep respect for the older people, and those with disabilities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-burke/i-was-young-and-physically-fit-and-i-struggled-here-so-i-had-a-deep/) [Edward Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-burke/) > [“Talia: I was brought up to respect older people and peasants...not that you're... Jack: (clears throat) Quit while you’re ahead Meryl: Ahead? She just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-flinn/talia-i-was-brought-up-to-respect-older-people-and-peasants-not-that/) [Alex Flinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-flinn/) > [I'm doing the best I can with the ravages of time on my body and I'm a work in progress. I can't write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-dell-orefice/i-m-doing-the-best-i-can-with-the-ravages-of-time-on-my-body-and-i-m/) [Carmen Dell'Orefice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-dell-orefice/) > [Most young people have tremendous respect for older people's views.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/most-young-people-have-tremendous-respect-for-older-people-s-views/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“Respect those who are older than you, So that they may honor you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jervin-balmediano/respect-those-who-are-older-than-you-so-that-they-may-honor-you/) [Jervin Balmediano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jervin-balmediano/) > [He is not of us who is not affectionate to the little ones, and does not respect the old; and he is not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad/he-is-not-of-us-who-is-not-affectionate-to-the-little-ones-and-does/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad/) > [“I think, well, I've had a shit of a life, all things considered. It wasn't fair. Everyone I've ever loved is dead, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-think-well-i-ve-had-a-shit-of-a-life-all-things-considered-it-wasn/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Do no harmful actions, do not become attached to the cycle of death and rebirth, show kindness, respect the old and have compassion for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/do-no-harmful-actions-do-not-become-attached-to-the-cycle-of-death/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) ## More by Shaquille O'Neal > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [And if the big dog ain't me, then the house won't get guarded - period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-if-the-big-dog-ain-t-me-then-the-house-won-t-get-guarded-period/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I don't send messages, I'm not a fax machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-don-t-send-messages-i-m-not-a-fax-machine/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I told our guys they must not have cable because Antoine Walker knows how to play, Derek Anderson can play, Shandon Anderson knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-our-guys-they-must-not-have-cable-because-antoine-walker-knows/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I was really upset. I felt like they tried to limit me, whoever 'they' may be. So I just said to myself third quarter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-was-really-upset-i-felt-like-they-tried-to-limit-me-whoever-they/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Keep in mind, I'm not allowed to be tough. I'm tamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/keep-in-mind-i-m-not-allowed-to-be-tough-i-m-tamed/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm still the baddest expletive in the world. Yeah, I'm getting older, but Kareem got older. Hakeem got older. I don't need Earthlings' respect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-still-the-baddest-expletive-in-the-world-yeah-i-m-getting-older/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Write this: Since my boy is the coach, I'm going to try out for the Dolphins next year. Tight end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/write-this-since-my-boy-is-the-coach-i-m-going-to-try-out-for-the/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Everybody talks about being a role model. But if you look up the word 'role' in a dictionary, it describes playing a part. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/everybody-talks-about-being-a-role-model-but-if-you-look-up-the-word/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Why don't you bring your face up here and let me punch it? Then you can tell me (if I'm stronger).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/why-don-t-you-bring-your-face-up-here-and-let-me-punch-it-then-you/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm known as The Big Baryshnikov.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-known-as-the-big-baryshnikov/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Enunciation, diction, all that stuff. None of that is in my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/enunciation-diction-all-that-stuff-none-of-that-is-in-my-personality/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I told Leonard, in the immortal words of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2, 'I'm going on vacation. If I tell you where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-leonard-in-the-immortal-words-of-tom-cruise-in-mission/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Stats don't matter. I care about winning, not stats. If I score 0 points and we win I'm happy. If I score 50, 60…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/stats-don-t-matter-i-care-about-winning-not-stats-if-i-score-0-points/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) [Explore all 422 Shaquille O'Neal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I respect the older guys.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shaquille O'Neal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-respect-the-older-guys/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-respect-the-older-guys/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-respect-the-older-guys-2512469_2512469.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-respect-the-older-guys-2512469_2512469.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-respect-the-older-guys-2512469_2512469.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I respect the older guys.” — Shaquille O'Neal", "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": "Shaquille O'Neal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I respect the older guys.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-respect-the-older-guys/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-respect-the-older-guys/#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 } } ] } ```