Respect for King Virat

Long ago, there was a cruel king named Virat who ruled over a beautiful city. All the citizens were afraid of him because of how harsh and mean he was. King Virat had a dog named Jack, whom he loved dearly. One day, Jack died. The king held a grand farewell ceremony for his dog. The entire population of the city attended and paid their respects to Jack. King Virat was very pleased. He thought, “My people must truly love me.” He felt like the most popular king in the world.

Some time later, King Virat himself passed away. But this time, no one came to his funeral.

Food for thought

Respect must be given in order to be received. It is earned, not demanded. Sometimes we confuse fear with respect. But fear is rooted in control, while respect is born from trust and admiration. There is a fine line between being feared and being truly respected. What can you do to win the trust of others so that they respect you not out of fear, but from the heart?

“Respect is not imposed. It is earned.”
“Fear makes people obey, but respect makes them follow.”