Honor is a subjective right. More specifically, honor is a right to respect as an equal. It has the following characteristics: (1) it can be lost, (2) it is single and indivisible, (3) in order that the right be retained the individual must follow certain rules (the honor code), and (4) there is at least one term in the language that always, or at least frequently, refers to this right.
As defined by the dictionary, honor is a high respect that earned through deeds and reputation. But, what is honor, and how does one receive it? Honor is like many things that are hard to put into words. For example, describing honor is like trying to describe any emotion like love or hate or any other feeling. But, also, honor is something that in an instant, people know someone has. So, again, what is honor, and how does one receive it?
Honor, as the dictionary states, is a high respect that is earned.
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respectPeople describe heroes as "being with honor" or "honorable." A hero is merely one way of gaining that high respect. By showing courage and wisdom where others faltered, a person gains a sense of respect among others. Slowly, as good deeds accumulate, that respect turns into something more, and without knowing the time or place, a person has gained his honor.
Many fictional stories have exaggerated the sense of honor to put the point across. Mixed with honor comes vengeance and such. In the Old World ways, all families had a sense of honor. If someone did something rather contemptible, a family would lose its respect in society. The only way to get that back would be to prove that deed never happened.
But, honor does not just come from doing remarkable things in impossible situations.
Another way of looking at it
in shakespeares "Henry IV" , a character, falstaff, explains honor;"Well, 'tis no matter, honor pricks me on. Yea, but how if honor pricks off when I come on? How then? Can honor set to a leg? No. Or an arm? No. Or take away the grief of a wound? No. Honor hath no skin in surgery, then? No. What is honor? A word. What is in that word? honor. What is that honor? Air. A trim reckoning? Who hath it? He that died on Wednesday. Doth he feel it? No. Doth he hear it? No. Is it insensible, then? Yes, to the dead. But will it not live with the living? No. Why? Detraction will not suffer it, therefore, I'll none of it. Honor is a mere escutcheon, and so ends my catechism."
basically , honor is a word. A very dangerous and emotive word, yes.But striving for honor is in itself narcissitic and dishonorable. weird huh?
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