Every Day Quotes: April
Apr 1
When people do not respect us we are sharply offended; yet deep down in his private heart no man much respects himself.
Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
Leroy Jethro Gibbs respected his superiors. It had been drilled into him in the Corps; his superiors were his superiors and he was to obey them without question.
The attitude had remained with him even when he had left. At first he had respected Mike for taking the time and effort to teach him how to do the job. Then he had respected Mike for simply being Mike and looking out for him. Then, as he had advanced, he had respected his Directors, both Morrow and Shepard.
Though it was a little hard to respect someone who had thrown up all over his new boots while observing her first Autopsy. Nevertheless, he tried his best.
However, the one person he could not respect was himself. He was a failure and there was no reason to respect such a man. He had failed to prevent the deaths of Shannon and Kelly, the most important people in his life, the women it was his duty to protect until his dying breath.
How could anyone respect a man who had failed so spectacularly? How could his team, how could DiNozzo respect him? How could they hold him in such high regard when he deserved none of it?
And yet when Tony showed a lack of respect, why did he headslap him back into line?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs hoped that one day he would no longer blame himself for the deaths of his family. And from that day on, no one had dare fail to respect him.