This is wise advice from the narrator's grandfather, but the narrator disagrees with his grandfather and has a different belief. The narrator believes that true obedience is the right way to get along with white men. The narrator believes that trust and mutual understanding earn him the respect of white men. This conviction of the narrator will lead him on a difficult journey. The narrator struggles and suffers, but develops as a man who thinks for himself towards the end of the book. In Invisible Man, the narrator must understand how racism affects society and how will he prevent racism from influencing his life before he can become a respected man.