Relationship Quotes About The Importance Of Mutual Respect

Quotes about respect in a relationship can help people understand the importance of respect when it comes to romance.

Respect and trust are widely considered to be important elements of most healthy relationships—romantic relationships included. Recognizing each other as human beings who deserve respect contributes significantly to this dynamic. 

Without respect, individuals may struggle with things like setting boundaries, communicating their feelings, and understanding their partner's perspective. Genuine respect can be important for harmony and mutual regard, where both parties know their opinions are valued. Learn why respect matters through 30 quotes about respect, and then get tips for how to cultivate it in your relationship. 

What is respect? 

Respect is defined by the American Psychological Association as “an attitude of, or behavior demonstrating, esteem, honor, regard, concern, and other such positive qualities toward an individual or entity.” In a broad sense, it’s a way of interacting with others that recognizes them as human beings and honors their existence.

Respect goes beyond mere admiration for one's abilities or achievements. Respect in a relationship means valuing each other’s humanity, recognizing the most sincere forms of love and care, and understanding that everyone deserves respect, from the CEO to the garbage man.

What is respect in relationships?

In many ways, respect is the foundation of a successful relationship, acting as the glue that holds partners together. In addition, when partners practice gratefulness for each other's contributions, it may create a space where respect motivates them to support and cherish one another even more.

Mutual respect can create a sense of trust and stability while also making it easier to manage conflicts. For example, even if you don’t have the same opinions, thoughts, or religious beliefs, you'll likely be more willing to listen to your partner’s perspective in an argument if you respect them. Alternatively, if you don't think your partner’s feelings matter as much as yours or don’t value the qualities they bring to the relationship, you might have difficulty feeling empathy for their experience and finding compromises.  

Self-respect is also typically important in relationships. This self-awareness and personal courage lead to actions that offer respect towards oneself and, by extension, earn respect from your partner. It involves recognizing your own worth, enabling you to set boundaries and communicate your needs. When you respect yourself, you're less likely to tolerate mistreatment in a relationship and may be better able to show respect to your partner as well. Having high self-respect can also improve your self-esteem. 

Relationship quotes about the importance of respect

The following inspirational quotes about respect can shed some light on how and why couples might want to prioritize respect in their relationship. From shorter sayings to lengthier extracts, these are some of the best quotes highlighting the importance of having a mutually respectful relationship.  

Best quotes about respect in relationships in general

This first set of quotes outlines the importance of trust and mutual respect in relationships in general, and some also offer insight on how to establish it.  

• "Most good relationships are built on mutual trust and respect." –Mona Sutphen
• "Respect is a two-way street; if you want to get it, you've got to give it." –R.G. Risch
• “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me…All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.” –Jackie Robinson
• "Knowledge will give you power—but character, respect." –Bruce Lee
• "Love can bring two people together, but it’s only respect that will keep two souls together." –Unknown
• “Be more humble than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree, always offering respect onto others and never expecting any in return.” –Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
• “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” –Richard Bach
• “Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear.”–Albert Camus
• “Respect people who trust you. It takes a lot for people to trust you, so treat their trust like precious porcelain.” –Brandon Cox
• “Respecting someone indicates the quality of your personality.” –Mohammad Sakhi
• "The truest form of love is how you behave toward someone, not how you feel about them." –Steve Hall
• “Once you take care of people, people respect you.” –George Weah
• "Treat people the way you want to be treated. Talk to people the way you want to be talked to. Respect is earned, not given." –Hussein Nishah
• "Love is the foundation while respect is the framework." –Unknown
• "Without love, there is no relationship. Without respect, there's no reason to stay in it." –Unknown
• "You will gain more respect and esteem through listening rather than through talking." –Clive Harman
• “If we lose love and self-respect for each other, this is how we finally die.” –Maya Angelou
• “Respect is one of life's greatest treasures. I mean, what does it all add up to if you don't have that?” –Marilyn Monroe

Quotes about respecting your partner for who they are 

One of the best ways to respect others may be to allow them to be themselves. This doesn't mean that partners shouldn't bring up issues or work toward compromise, but it does mean that it's usually best not to try and change who your partner is on a fundamental level.

• "Respect is one of the greatest expressions of love." –Miguel Angel Ruiz
• "A loving relationship is one in which the loved one is free to be himself—to laugh with me, but never at me; to cry with me, but never because of me; to love life, to love himself, to love being loved. Such a relationship is based upon freedom and can never grow in a jealous heart." –Leo Buscaglia
• "A real man loves and respects his partner for who they are, not for whom he wants them to be." –Jodi Picoult
• "Respect is appreciation of the separateness of the other person, of the ways in which he or she is unique." –Annie Gottlieb
• "To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater." –Bono
• "Respect requires empathy, the capacity to anticipate and understand the feelings of others. It requires consideration." –Deborah Norville
• "A great relationship is about two things: First, appreciating the similarities, and second, respecting the differences." –Unknown
• “To love yourself, truly love yourself, is to finally discover the essence of personal courage, self-respect, integrity, and self-esteem. These are the qualities of grace that come directly from a soul with stamina.” –Caroline Myss
• "Love doesn't mean a state of perfect caring. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now—and to go on caring through joyful times and through times that may bring us pain." –Fred Rogers
• "Don't try to change people; just love them. Love is what changes us." –Unknown 

Self-respect quotes 

While it's important to respect your partner, it's typically equally important to respect and value yourself. Research suggests that a lack of self-respect can lead to depressive symptoms, and it can also make it harder to set boundaries, communicate honestly, and show up for others authentically. Here are some quotes about the importance of self-respect in relationships and in life more broadly.

• "I cannot conceive of a greater loss than the loss of one's self-respect." –Mahatma Gandhi
• “The respect you show to others (or lack thereof) is an immediate reflection on your self-respect.” –Alex Elle
• "There is overwhelming evidence that the higher the level of self-esteem, the more likely one will be to treat others with respect, kindness, and generosity." –Nathaniel Branden
• "I would rather be alone with dignity than in a relationship that requires me to sacrifice my self-respect." –Mandy Hale
• "If you want to be respected by others, the great thing is to respect yourself. Only by that, only by self-respect, will you compel others to respect you." –Fyodor Dostoyevsky
• "Never trade respect for attention." –Mel Robbins
• "A person who has no respect for themselves is incapable of having any respect for their partner." –Unknown
• “Respect commands itself, and it can neither be given nor withheld when it is due.” –Eldridge Cleaver
• "Self-respect is the cornerstone of all virtue." –John Herschell
• "Once you figure out what respect tastes like, it tastes better than attention. But you have to get there." –Pink
• "Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power." –Clint Eastwood
• "Take very little notice of those people who choose to treat you poorly. It is how they are defining their story, not yours." –Lei Wah

Beyond quotes: How to cultivate respect in your relationship

Here are a few tips that may help you cultivate a greater sense of respect in your relationship(s). 

1. Foster self-respect. Engaging in positive self-talk and affirmations, practicing gratitude, and keeping up with self-care are a few ways to foster a sense of self-respect. Encouraging your partner to do things that increase their self-respect can be helpful, too.
2. Be considerate. Practice being considerate of your partner's needs, feelings, and desires as you go about your daily life together. It can show them that you’re paying attention and that you care about their happiness.  
3. Set boundaries.Having clear boundaries can make respecting each other's needs and wants easier.
4. Be supportive. Showing interest in your partner's friends, work, hobbies, thoughts, and feelings can go a long way toward making them feel valued and building respect.
5. Speak kindly. Speaking kindly to and about your partner can help build a foundation of trust and respect, even when you disagree or experience a conflict. A fundamental sense of respect should generally always be the baseline.
6. Have open communication. Communicating openly about your individual needs and desires can empower your partner to respect and care for you in the ways that you need. 

How a trained therapist can help

If setting boundaries, discussing your feelings, or resolving conflict sounds overwhelming, you might consider seeking out support in therapy. A trained couples therapist may be able to help you and your partner navigate topics like showing respect and having boundaries in a way that builds closeness without minimizing anyone's experience.

If going to an in-person couples therapist seems impossible, given you and your partner's busy schedules, online couples therapy may be worth exploring instead. It allows you and your partner to attend sessions at a time and from a place that works best for both of you, whether that’s at home, at your separate workplaces, or at another location that has a stable internet connection. Research suggests that online couples therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy for improving relationship satisfaction.