Man, Dignity of
Every human being deserves dignity and respect regardless of social status.
M. Boudon, an eminent surgeon, was one day sent for by the Cardinal du Bois, prime-minister of France, to perform a very serious operation upon him. The cardinal, on seeing him enter the room, said to him, "You must not expect to treat me in the same rough manner as you treat your poor miserable wretches at your hospital of the Hôtel Dieu."—"My lord," replied M. Boudon with great dignity, "every one of those miserable wretches, as your Eminence is pleased to call them, is a prime-minister in my eyes."
— Percy