"Australia - not western in geography, of course, but in every other respect for sure (it certainly doesn't want to be regarded as Asian, God forbid) - loves nothing more than to throw its weight around in South-East Asia by playing peacekeeper, carrying out its role as the United States' regional policeman."

Respect

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Thematic Reflection

This quotation examines the core nature of Respect as articulated by Martin Jacques. Within historical and literary traditions, reflections on Respect provide actionable mental models, challenging individuals to evaluate personal ethics, self-discipline, and daily actions.

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About Martin Jacques

Martin Jacques is a British academic, journalist, political commentator and writer. He first came to prominence as the editor of Marxism Today, which under his leadership from 1977 to 1991 became an influential forum for political debate on the British left. He later co-founded the think tank Demos in 1993 and has written extensively as a columnist for major British newspapers including The Times, The Sunday Times, The Independent, The Observer, The Guardian, and the New Statesman. Jacques is also known internationally for his 2009 book When China Rules the World, in which he argues that China's rise will reshape the global order and end Western hegemony over international affairs.

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More by Martin Jacques

"In Formula One, the car can make a difference in a way that a driver cannot. Whereas Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna spent their early seasons in second-rate machinery, Hamilton walked into the equal best car on the grid. His first season none the less has, by any standards, been extraordinary."

— Martin Jacques
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"In 1975, the Americans suffered a spectacular military defeat at the hands of North Vietnam and the Vietcong, with U.S. helicopters seeking to rescue leading U.S. personnel from the tops of buildings as Vietnamese guerrillas closed in on the centre of Saigon."

— Martin Jacques
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"Following the end of the Cold War, there was much discussion concerning the point of NATO. In the event, it was reinvented as a means of reducing Russia's reach on its western frontiers and seeking to isolate it. Its former East European client states were admitted to NATO, as were the Baltic states."

— Martin Jacques
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"If the Age of Sport has been all champagne and roses hitherto, then expect our love affair with its newly-acquired prominence to become increasingly tainted by scandals about cheating. Sport is losing its shine and allure."

— Martin Jacques
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More about Respect

"Anglo-Saxon civilization has taught the individual to protect his own rights American civilization will teach him to respect the rights of others."

— William Jennings Bryan
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"One thing that I feel very, very strongly is that we talk about Islamic countries, Islamic people, Islamic leaders, as either moderates or extremists. It's almost like there are only two categories of Muslims. And actually, that doesn't show respect. It shows lack of understanding of the diversity of Muslim thought."

— David Miliband
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"Honor is a luxury for aristocrats, but it is a necessity for hall porters."

— G.K. Chesterton
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"And the woman who could win the respect of man was often the woman who could knock him down with her bare fists and sit on him until he yelled for help."

— Agnes Smedley
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