In this case "honor" is not about the individual feelings of each person, but rather more tangible "honors" bestowed upon people.
They might throw him a parade, or a special banquet. Maybe the Queen knights him or the President gives him a medal. Maybe everyone in town lets him take 15 items through the "10 items or less" checkout at the supermarket.
When someone is "honored" like this it is not about how individual people feel. It is that the general appreciation society has is shown through things like I have mentioned.