What's more important--being liked, or being respected?

Question

I know, both are important and desirable. Please answer, both in terms of your own subjective, personal preference; and which is more
objectively important to people in general. Thank you. I'm just interested in how people feel about this.

Answer 1

I think it really depends on the social scenario. In the work environment I think that respect is far more important. Both from a superior and subordinate standpoint. In a family or friendship relationship, respect is also very important to insure both parties needs are met.

I do feel however that most people in today's society put more effort on being liked than being respected. Unfortunately they feel that if they can get someone to like them they will also respect them.

In a casual acquaintance I don' feel that respect has any bearing. Neither party counts on the other for support or fulfillment of needs, so I feel that it is more important to be cordial.

Answer 2

In terms of liking/respecting yourself: it is more important to respect yourself. If you can be sure you've done the most you could to do the right thing as best you know, I see no reason you shouldn't like yourself as well.
As far as others liking/respecting you: respect is still better. Not respect like you have to give authority, but "Atticus Finch" type respect. Where your actions speak for themselves. And whoever doesn't like you after that is a dingle-dorf.

Answer 3

There are people I like or I should say cherish their friendship and would give them the shirt off my back,go to the ends of the earth for.and pick up a weapon to protect them. On the other hand I know people I respect for what they stand for and respect their right to agree to disagree, but if they were dying of thirst I wouldn't give them the sweat off my a---. So there you have it ! On the other hand I also respect (automatically ) older folks as this is just good manners

Answer 4

Being respected is way more important. If they respect you the liking you will come. I would rather that someone respect me than like me. I have friends that liked me but didn't respect me and eventually those friendships died. Take the respect, you will respect yourself more, if you do.

Answer 5

respect lasts more if built on good bases.. but liking can fade away by the slightest situation.. what causes respect always stable beliefs and attitudes and that would not change easily.. but we could like anybody at a glance and don't at another occasion ..but i think we have some kind of NEED to be liked and loved and that illustrates why we lean to like more than respect..

Answer 6

I think respected, but personally I prefer feared, it holds a certain form of respect in itself

Answer 7

it's not so important.. it's just a result of what we've do.

the most important thing is being rejected and ignored.
because we could understand and learn how to improve ourself to get respected.

the progress is a big thing than the result.

Answer 8

I always try my best to respect other people. You may not like me - but I do expect to be respected for my opinions, my race and me being ME.

Answer 9

Being... you won't like to be respected if they don't like you... and someone could like you, but they might not respect you, your values, or your wishes. You have to have them both, because alone they are useless.

Answer 10

If you truly like someone you should have respect for them also... I think it should go hand in hand..... If someone does not show me respect, I feel that they don't like me very much.....And I really don't need or want to be around someone like that...