Lesson: Between Respect and Disrespect
My Mistress said this to me several times over the years, to remind me of this lesson.
“Boy,” she’d say “Remember: Between Respect and Disrespect…” and then she’d give me a sidelong glance, one eyebrow raised, which said it all to me ‘Watch it, boy. You’re about to cross a line. And you do not want to do that.’
The lesson she was referring to, specifically, was this:
*Respect only those who have earned your respect.
Never disrespect anyone, for you will only disrespect yourself.
Between respect and disrespect is something that is often forgotten – decency.
Always be decent to everyone, even those who have earned your scorn.
Be better than those who would disrespect you.*
This is about Personal Honour and Self Discipline more than Respect, despite the fact that it seems otherwise. The biggest enemies of this lesson are pride, arrogance and anger. Vengeance serves no one and benefits nothing. Justice is is the only thing that serves you and benefits your “self.”(1) And there is no better justice than to show you are the better person by actions and deeds, rather than proving you are no better than they are with arrogance and pride.
The bottom line of this lesson is this, in the most basic terms, and coining an old phrase: “Never bring yourself down to their level.” Another old phrase that fits here, in a fashion, is: “Never let the bastards get you down.”
Maintain your honour, integrity, self-respect and the respect of others through self-discipline and by being the best version of you that you can be at all times.
Now we will continue this lesson in the comments in the form of questions and answers, debating the various points, and constructively using our collective knowledge and wisdom to learn and teach this lesson.
-Master Vic Graves
Footnotes:
(1) “self” in this context refers to who you truly are inside, and not referring to “yourself” which references what you are, your physical being, and the life you lead. I will be posting a lesson soon that will explain this concept more thoroughly.