Glory vs. Honor — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 10, 2024
Glory is public recognition for achievements, while honor emphasizes integrity and moral conduct, often regarded personally or within a community.
Difference Between Glory and Honor
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Glory is often associated with fame and public adulation, achieved through remarkable accomplishments in fields such as sports, military, or arts. It is external and visible, recognized widely. Honor, on the other hand, is a deep respect earned through upright behavior, adherence to ethical codes, and living by one’s principles, often recognized within a community or society.
The pursuit of glory can drive individuals to excel and achieve greatness, pushing the limits of their abilities to gain widespread acclaim. Honor focuses on the intrinsic value of one’s actions and character, highlighting the importance of being true to oneself and maintaining ethical standards, regardless of public recognition.
Glory is typically celebrated with awards, titles, and public acknowledgment, serving as a testament to one’s achievements and elevating their status among peers. Honor, however, is reflected through respect and admiration from others based on one’s conduct and integrity, not necessarily accompanied by physical or visible rewards.
In historical contexts, glory was often sought on the battlefield or in competition, where victory brought fame and recognition. Honor was esteemed in everyday actions and decisions, guiding individuals to act justly and with dignity, even in the absence of external rewards.
While glory is measurable through tangible successes and the accolades that follow, honor is more subjective, rooted in moral values and ethical conduct that may not always be recognized or rewarded by society.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Public recognition for achievements.
Deep respect for ethical and moral conduct.
Source
External acclaim and accomplishments.
Personal integrity and ethical principles.
Recognition
Visible and celebrated with awards.
Internal respect and admiration from others.
Pursuit
Achieved through exceptional achievements.
Earned through upright behavior.
Context
Often associated with competitive fields.
Valued in personal and social conduct.
Compare with Definitions
Glory
Recognition for outstanding achievements.
She achieved glory by setting a new world record.
Honor
Esteemed for one’s ethical values.
She was held in high honor for her charitable work.
Glory
Can be fleeting and dependent on achievements.
He pursued glory, knowing its transient nature.
Honor
Independent of public recognition.
Despite the lack of glory, he maintained his honor through difficult times.
Glory
Often a result of victory or success.
The general led his troops to glory on the battlefield.
Honor
Valued within personal and community standards.
The award was a symbol of the honor bestowed upon him for his lifelong service.
Glory
Associated with fame and prestige.
The team's victory brought glory to the entire country.
Honor
Earned through integrity and dignity.
His honor was recognized by the community for his fairness.
Glory
Celebrated with public adulation.
His glory was evident in the parade thrown in his honor.
Honor
Reflects adherence to moral principles.
Living with honor meant making tough but ethical decisions.
Glory
Great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown.
Honor
High respect, as that shown for special merit; recognition or esteem
The honor shown to a Nobel laureate.
The place of honor at the table.
Glory
Something conferring honor or renown.
Honor
Great privilege
I have the honor of presenting the governor.
Glory
A highly praiseworthy asset
Your wit is your crowning glory.
Honor
Good name; reputation
I must defend my honor.
Glory
Adoration, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship.
Honor
A source or cause of credit
Was an honor to the profession.
Glory
Majestic beauty and splendor; resplendence
The sun set in a blaze of glory.
Honor
A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction, such as a military decoration.
Glory
The splendor and bliss of heaven; perfect happiness.
Honor
Public acts or ceremonies showing respect
Was buried with full honors.
Glory
A height of achievement, enjoyment, or prosperity
Ancient Rome in its greatest glory.
Honor
Special recognition for unusual academic achievement
Graduated with honors.
Glory
A halo, nimbus, or aureole. Also called gloriole.
Honor
A program of advanced study for exceptional students
Planned to take honors in history.
Glory
To rejoice triumphantly; exult
A sports team that gloried in its hard-won victory.
Honor
Social courtesies offered to guests
Did the honors at tea.
Glory
Great beauty and splendor.
Honor
High rank
Assumed the honor of kingship.
Glory
Honour, admiration, or distinction, accorded by common consent to a person or thing; high reputation; renown.
Honor
Honor Used with His, Her, or Your as a title and form of address for certain officials, such as judges and the mayors of certain cities
Her Honor, Judge Jones.
Glory
That quality in a person or thing which secures general praise or honour.
Honor
A sense of principled uprightness of character; personal integrity
Conducted herself with honor.
Saw the challenge as a matter of honor.
Glory
Worship or praise.
Honor
A code of integrity, dignity, and pride, chiefly among men, that was maintained in some societies, as in feudal Europe, by force of arms.
Glory
An optical phenomenon, consisting of concentric rings and somewhat similar to a rainbow, caused by sunlight or moonlight interacting with the water droplets that compose mist or clouds, centered on the antisolar or antilunar point.
Honor
A woman's chastity or reputation for chastity.
Glory
Victory; success.
Honor
(Sports) The right of being first at the tee in golf.
Glory
An emanation of light supposed to shine from beings that are specially holy. It is represented in art by rays of gold, or the like, proceeding from the head or body, or by a disk, or a mere line.
Honor
Any of the four or five highest cards, especially the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the trump suit, in card games such as bridge or whist.
Glory
(theology) The manifestation of the presence of God as perceived by humans in Abrahamic religions.
Honor
Often honors The points allotted to these cards.
Glory
(obsolete) Pride; boastfulness; arrogance.
Honor
To hold in respect; esteem
A researcher who is highly honored for her work.
Glory
To exult with joy; to rejoice.
Honor
To show respect for
Honored the volunteers with a party.
Glory
To boast; to be proud.
Honor
To confer distinction on
He has honored us with his presence.
Glory
To shine radiantly.
Honor
To bow to (another dancer) in square dancing
Honor your partner.
Glory
Praise, honor, admiration, or distinction, accorded by common consent to a person or thing; high reputation; honorable fame; renown.
Glory to God in the highest.
Spread his glory through all countries wide.
Honor
To accept or pay as valid
Honor a check.
A store that honors all credit cards.
Glory
Pride; boastfulness; arrogance.
In glory of thy fortunes.
Honor
(uncountable) recognition of importance or value; respect; veneration of someone, usually for being morally upright or successful
The crowds gave the returning general much honor and praise.
Glory
The presence of the Divine Being; the manifestations of the divine nature and favor to the blessed in heaven; celestial honor; heaven.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Honor
(uncountable) the state of being morally upright, honest, noble, virtuous, and magnanimous; excellence of character; the perception of such a state; favourable reputation; dignity
He was a most perfect knight, for he had great honor and chivalry.
His honor was unstained.
Glory
An emanation of light supposed to proceed from beings of peculiar sanctity. It is represented in art by rays of gold, or the like, proceeding from the head or body, or by a disk, or a mere line.
Honor
A privilege
I had the honour of dining with the ambassador.
Glory
To exult with joy; to rejoice.
Glory ye in his holy name.
Honor
(in the plural) the privilege of going first
I'll let you have the honours, Bob—go ahead.
Glory
To boast; to be proud.
God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
No one . . . should glory in his prosperity.
Honor
(golf) the right to play one's ball before one's opponent.
Glory
A state of high honor;
He valued glory above life itself
Honor
A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament.
He is an honour to his nation.
Glory
Brilliant radiant beauty;
The glory of the sunrise
Honor
(feudal law) a seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended
Glory
An indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint
Honor
In bridge, an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten especially of the trump suit. In some other games, an ace, king, queen or jack.
Glory
Rejoice proudly
Honor
(in the plural) (courses for) an honours degree: a university qualification of the highest rank
At university I took honours in modern history.
Honor
(transitive) to think of highly, to respect highly; to show respect for; to recognise the importance or spiritual value of
The freedom fighters will be forever remembered and honored by the people.
Honor
(transitive) to conform to, abide by, act in accordance with (an agreement, treaty, promise, request, or the like)
I trusted you, but you have not honored your promise.
Refuse to honor the test ban treaty
Honor
(transitive) to confer (bestow) an honour or privilege upon (someone)
Ten members of the profession were honored at the ceremony.
The prince honored me with an invitation to his birthday banquet.
Honor
(transitive) to make payment in respect of (a cheque, banker's draft, etc.)
I'm sorry Sir, but the bank did not honour your cheque.
Honor
Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence.
A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country.
Honor
That which rightfully attracts esteem, respect, or consideration; self-respect; dignity; courage; fidelity; especially, excellence of character; high moral worth; virtue; nobleness.
Godlike erect, with native honor clad.
Honor
Purity; chastity; - a term applied mostly to women, but becoming uncommon in usage.
If she have forgotHonor and virtue.
Honor
A nice sense of what is right, just, and true, with course of life correspondent thereto; strict conformity to the duty imposed by conscience, position, or privilege; integrity; uprightness; trustworthness.
Say, what is honor? 'T is the finest senseOf justice which the human mind can frame,Intent each lurking frailty to disclaim,And guard the way of life from all offenseSuffered or done.
I could not love thee, dear, so much,Loved I not honor more.
Honor
That to which esteem or consideration is paid; distinguished position; high rank.
I have given thee . . . both riches, and honor.
Thou art clothed with honor and majesty.
Honor
Fame; reputation; credit.
Some in their actions do woo, and affect honor and reputation.
If my honor is meant anything distinct from conscience, 't is no more than a regard to the censure and esteem of the world.
Honor
A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament; as, he is an honor to his nation.
Honor
A title applied to the holders of certain honorable civil offices, or to persons of rank; as, His Honor the Mayor. See Note under Honorable.
Honor
A seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended.
Honor
Academic or university prizes or distinctions; as, honors in classics.
Honor
The ace, king, queen, and jack of trumps. The ten and nine are sometimes called Dutch honors.
Honor
To regard or treat with honor, esteem, or respect; to revere; to treat with deference and submission; when used of the Supreme Being, to reverence; to adore; to worship.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.
It is a customMore honor'd in the breach than the observance.
Honor
To dignify; to raise to distinction or notice; to bestow honor upon; to elevate in rank or station; to ennoble; to exalt; to glorify; hence, to do something to honor; to treat in a complimentary manner or with civility.
Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighten to honor.
The name of Cassius honors this corruption.
Honor
To accept and pay when due; as, to honora bill of exchange.
Honor
A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;
An award for bravery
Honor
The state of being honored
Honor
The quality of being honorable and having a good name;
A man of honor
Honor
A woman's virtue or chastity
Honor
Bestow honor or rewards upon;
Today we honor our soldiers
The scout was rewarded for courageus action
Honor
Show respect towards;
Honor your parents!
Honor
Accept as pay;
We honor checks and drafts
Common Curiosities
What is honor?
Honor is the respect and esteem one earns through demonstrating integrity, morality, and ethical behavior.
What is glory?
Glory is the fame and public admiration one receives as a result of notable achievements or success.
Is it possible to achieve glory without honor?
Yes, one can achieve glory through notable accomplishments without necessarily upholding ethical principles, which might not earn them honor.
Why is honor considered important?
Honor is important because it reflects one’s commitment to ethical principles and integrity, which are foundational to trust and respect in social relationships.
How do glory and honor differ?
Glory is external, based on achievements, while honor is more about one's moral standing and character, often recognized personally or within a community.
Can someone possess honor without glory?
Yes, a person can be honored for their character and ethical actions without achieving public fame or glory.
How are glory and honor recognized?
Glory is recognized through public accolades and recognition, whereas honor is acknowledged through respect and esteem from others, often in a more personal or community context.
Can the pursuit of glory compromise honor?
Yes, if the pursuit of glory leads to compromising ethical standards, it can diminish a person's honor.
Are there cultural differences in how glory and honor are perceived?
Yes, cultural perceptions of glory and honor can vary, influencing what is valued and respected in different societies.
Do glory and honor always go together?
Not necessarily; while they can coexist, one can have glory without honor, or honor without glory, depending on their actions and the values of their society.
How does society reward glory and honor?
Society may reward glory with public recognition and accolades, while honor is often rewarded through personal respect and admiration, without needing public acknowledgment.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
