"Respect commands itself and can neither be given nor withheld when it is due"

In this quote, Eldridge Cleaver is highlighting the importance of respect and how it must be made instead of demanded. He thinks that regard is an effective force that can not be controlled or manipulated. It is something that is earned through one's actions and habits. Cleaver likewise suggests that regard is not something that can be taken away or given as a favor. It is a natural response to someone who deserves it. This quote acts as a pointer that regard is a basic aspect of human interaction and ought to be offered to those who have earned it.