What it Means "Dignity"

Many have heard the word dignity but what does it really mean? Some people might say dignity is self- respect, but I personally think it can be an appearance and how we carry ourselves as a person. Dignity is described in many different meanings. Some people may not even know how many meaning there truly are for the word dignity. In fact, it can be how people over all express themselves. Therefore, human dignity can be respect for oneself as well as other people. Although this is a great thing in someone’s life; it really shows how we are as a person, and our personality. The word “Dignity and respect” are more than just words. They are attitudes, or expressions, of how someone regards another person. This is the essence of how we treat each other.

However, respect is a very important value for one’s life and can be part of an individual dignity. Many people have said that respect is an act, but in reality respect comes in many different forms. It’s how we interact with others and how we represent ourselves as a person. Although Millions of people may think that respect is treating one another with kindness, I believe respect goes far beyond what others may think it really is. Defining self respect in my own words mean respecting myself above all else. It is honoring my values and principals before anyone and anything else. Dignity is trusting me to say and do what feels true. Than again dignity is knowing that we are all equal to any other person. We are just as deserving of respect, dignity, and success as well as happiness and love and appreciation as anyone else.

Although respect can be part of someone’s dignity, I believe appearance is well apart of one’s dignity as well. Appearance is very important because it is how we look and impress overall another person. For instance; having a clean house is particularly important to everyone in terms of maintaining their dignity and self respect. Image is how look at others in everyday life. Appearance is also the sense of style we wear to have a great image. Overall, it is how many people stand, or sits in the chair whether, if it’s sitting up straight or slouching. Some people may change their appearance at times because they feel they don’t fit in. Others pretend to be something they truly aren't. No matter which way you look at it, if you try to act like someone your not, than you have no dignity in yourself. For example; I pick out a quote for you to read that well represents Greg Mortenson. (“ I told him truthfully that I had never seen Dr. Greg take a drink, and that he was a married man, who respected his wife and children and would never Eve-tease any Balti girls.” page 198 Mortenson ).

For instance, dignity also comes with or how we carry ourselves as a person. This comes in many different ways. The way you conduct yourself in public, body language, and loudness is part of someone’s dignity. Dignity is liking yourself, for the most part, as who you are. In behaving positively towards others, we also are reinforcing our own positive self image. If we are treating others with disrespect and without dignity, then we are lowering our own self image and telling the world how we feel about ourselves. This is how we carry ourselves in every day lives and for the most part this is king of an idea of the word dignity defined.


As people can see there are many different example of dignity, self- respect and appearances, and as well as how we carry ourselves life in general. These are the top 3 most important values of dignity. Why? Because it shows who you are as a person. If others prefer to be around you or not. No one wants to be around a rude and grumpy uneducated person. Dignity is based and determine on body language, attitude and also the way we dress is part of our dignity. Greg Mortenon carried himself with good dignity even though at times he was not in the best situation. He tried his hardest to do all he can for these people he had not known very long. Despite that Greg Mortenson was a stranger but he stayed strong, positive, and proud to what he had become to be to these people. This showed that Greg is an encourage man to those human being lives. He surely represented himself as dignity and in a good manner. Greg had a lot of self respect towards himself and to another well being.