Up-voted for this:

By my observation the social necessity of showing respect to an authority figure may actually have an inverse correlation with their merit - unless you actually wish to challenge them.

Sometimes I get into trouble with this, and have to explain to somebody whom I respect that I didn't show them as much respect as I showed another because I actually respect them more (and probably actually respected them too much, but I don't say that). Mostly this is not authority figures, however.