You can't please everyone, nor should you seek to, because then you won't please anyone, least of all yourself.
Interpretation
It's impossible to satisfy everyone, and trying to do so can lead to disappointing yourself.
This quote emphasizes the futility of attempting to meet the diverse expectations of others. By striving to please everyone, an individual risks losing their own identity and satisfaction, ultimately resulting in a scenario where no one, including themselves, is pleased. The essence of the quote conveys the importance of prioritizing one's own happiness and values over the opinions of others.
In practice
In a motivational speech about self-acceptance, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of personal happiness.
My drive to put myself on the line comes from boredom. From that feeling when you go to bed and think, 'What did I do today?' It doesn't have to be something monumental, just a feeling that you really tried to look at something, or look into something.
When the other kids started calling me nicknames, I knew everything was all right. I have a pretty big mouth, so they hit on that and began calling me Gatemouth or Satchelmouth, and that Satchelmouth has stuck to me all my life, except that now it's been made into 'Satchmo' - 'Satchmo' Armstrong.
I've experienced great things, I've experienced great tragedies. I've done almost everything I could possibly ever imagine doing, but I just know that there's more.
I have long understood that losing always comes with the territory when you wander into the gambling business, just as getting crippled for life is an acceptable risk in the linebacker business. They both are extremely violent sports, and pain is part of the bargain. Buy the ticket, take the ride.
My poor life This shawl Frayed on strongboxes full of gold I roll along with Dream And smoke And the only flame in the universe
Living a life fully engaged and full of whimsy and the kind of things that love does is something most people plan to do, but along the way they just kind of forget. Their dreams become one of those "we'll go there next time" deferrals. The sad thing is, for many there is no "next time" because passing on the chance to cross over is an overall attitude toward life rather than a single decision.
Enjoy yourself, drink, call the life you live today your own; but only that, the rest belongs to chance.
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