Let's not become so worried about not offending anybody that we lose the ability to distinguish between respect and paranoia.

The remark warns against a culture of excessive self-censorship. King contrasts genuine respect—consideration for others’ dignity and differences—with “paranoia,” a fear-driven vigilance that treats any potential offense as catastrophic. The implied cost of this paranoia is moral and intellectual: people may stop making necessary distinctions, asking hard questions, or speaking plainly, even when doing so is constructive. In effect, the quote argues for proportionality: sensitivity should guide communication, but it should not harden into anxious avoidance that undermines honest dialogue and clear judgment.