There is no respect for others without humility in one’s self.

The aphorism argues that respect is not merely a social performance but a moral achievement rooted in self-knowledge. Humility here means recognizing one’s partiality, ignorance, and dependence—conditions shared by all people. Without that inward check on ego, “respect” for others easily becomes condescension, instrumental politeness, or admiration reserved only for those who flatter our self-image. Amiel implies that humility levels the moral field: by lowering the self from a position of imagined superiority, it becomes possible to see others as ends in themselves. The line thus links interpersonal ethics to inner character, making self-governance the foundation of genuine regard.