Why respect is important is a simple but significant question which must be answered if someone does not have a clearviewpoint about it. But first it is important to know that what respect actually is. Respect is a basic moral value or need which makes us aware that we are human beings not wild animals. So we should respect others and should be respected by others to prove our humane identity among all other creatures present on this earth. The awareness about respect must be instilled in every human being from his childhood whether he belongs to a lower social class or an aristocratic section of society. Respecting your parents, teachers and elders is the main step towards teaching the meaning and importance of respect in our life.
Respecting others is a silent way to express our feeling for them. It’s an unspoken way of communication which build unshaken and strong relations between people respecting each other. When a person shows respect for someone, then it means that the person have some value for him. His advices and suggestions are important for him.
Some people, particularly younger generation, thinks that showing respect to someone means that you are degrading yourself. They take respect as a sign of weakness or inferiority which could harm one’s self respect. But it is absolutely wrong concept about the basic trait or emotion which makes us a real human being.
Another way of understanding that respect important is to imagine a world without respect. Think if nobody have respect for others views and thinking, regarding every aspect of life, and try to impose his own will then what would be the situation.
Certainly we will stop tolerating each other completely and will become absolutely selfish in our thoughts and deeds which is actual moral degradation. We will start slipping towards immoral actions which leave no room for existing human civilization. In short if respect is taken out of human values then there is almost no difference between a human being and a beast left, other than physical appearances.
So respect others and make them to respect you through you respected and polished manners. Don’t forget to distinguish between respect and flattering as respect makes you a human being of higher moral value while flattering makes you a degraded person with no self respect at all.