Difference between fear and respect

Fear and respect are two emotions that we experience every day. When we sense that someone/something is a potential threat to us, it is fear while respect is the admiration we have for someone/something for their good work or qualities. These are different but in some case, people mistake fear for respect.

We obey our teachers or boss at work but it is always not the case that it is due to respect for them. The fear of losing a job or getting low marks might be inducing the obedience in us. Respect always needs to be earned. Just because someone is our parent, boss or teacher, we cannot and also don’t respect them. If we do, it is as a human being, only for certain things they did. There might be a little bit of emotional fear with respect as well; the fear of losing them. However, it is never vice versa. When we fear someone, we do not respect them. Respect cannot be earned by creating fear.

Respect is a positive emotion while fear is a negative. Fear makes us do something but respect makes us want to do something. Respect is very hard to be earned and once earned, it is very easy to lose; just the opposite of fear. That’s why people often try to work their way out by creating fear rather than earning respect. Fear demoralizes us and destroys our self-confidence. We are forced to act in a certain way when we fear.

Both fear and respect is important for us. This might sound contradictory but it is true. Fear helps us take important decisions that can be life-saving. Because of fear of failing and ruining the career, we study hard during exams. Hadn’t there been fear, the society and country wouldn’t abide by the law. “A good scare is worth more to a man than good advice" (Howe, 1911).

Works Cited

Howe, E.W., 1911. Famous and not so famour fear quotes. [Online] Available at: http://phobialist.com/fears.html [Accessed 20 April 2013].