---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It matters not if the world has heard or…"
description: "\"“It matters not if the world has heard or approves or understands...the only applause we're meant to seek is that of nail-scarred hands.”\" — B.J. Hoff"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/b-j-hoff-221827_applause_it-matters-not-if-the-world-has-heard-or_2735687.jpg"
---

#  It matters not if the world has heard or approves or…

![“It matters not if the world has heard or approves or understands...the only applause we're meant to seek is that of nail-scarred hands.” quote by B.J. Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/b-j-hoff-221827_applause_it-matters-not-if-the-world-has-heard-or_2735687.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/b-j-hoff-221827_applause_it-matters-not-if-the-world-has-heard-or_2735687.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/b-j-hoff-221827_applause_it-matters-not-if-the-world-has-heard-or_2735687.jpg)

> ““It matters not if the world has heard or approves or understands...the only applause we're meant to seek is that of nail-scarred hands.””

[B.J. Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-hoff/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True validation comes from personal effort, not external approval or understanding.

**In simple terms:** Seek applause from your own hard work, not others.

Key Takeaway

Value self-earned achievement.

Themes

self-reliance authenticity effort

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

literary motivational

When to use this quote

- creative work
- skill development
- personal projects

Key Concepts

personal fulfillment inner validation

Questions to Reflect On

- What does personal effort mean to you?
- How do you measure success without external approval?

A Different Perspective

External applause may be fleeting and unreliable.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) [Applause Meant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause-meant-2988335/) [Nail Scarred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nail-scarred-918074/) [Scarred Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scarred-hands-918075/) [Understands Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understands-applause-2988336/)

## Related quotes

> [If you had never known physical pain in your life, how could you appreciate the nail scarred hands with which Jesus Christ will meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/if-you-had-never-known-physical-pain-in-your-life-how-could-you/)

[Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/)

> [On the back of Satan's neck is a nail scarred footprint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/on-the-back-of-satan-s-neck-is-a-nail-scarred-footprint/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [When Satan attacks you, command him in the Name of Jesus to bend his neck. On the back of it you'll find there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/when-satan-attacks-you-command-him-in-the-name-of-jesus-to-bend-his/)

[E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/)

> [When I got through, Duke Ellington stood up and started the applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brown/when-i-got-through-duke-ellington-stood-up-and-started-the-applause/)

[Ruth Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-brown/)

> [“A magician must always value his magic effects more than himself, because after few years audience may not remember his name but they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-magician-must-always-value-his-magic-effects-more-than-himself/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [If anyone ever boos you off stage, that is simply applause from ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/if-anyone-ever-boos-you-off-stage-that-is-simply-applause-from-ghosts/)

[Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/)

> [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's defender.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-clear-that-the-future-of-freedom-and-peace-depend-on-the/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [“Those who do soul work, who want the searing truth more than solace or applause, know each other right away. Those who want something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/those-who-do-soul-work-who-want-the-searing-truth-more-than-solace-or/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [ All the shows we did pre-airdate, and I'd come out - "Rob Lowe!" - and it was \[Offers bored applause.\] After the show aired?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/all-the-shows-we-did-pre-airdate-and-i-d-come-out-rob-lowe-and-it-was/)

[Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/)

> [“i nod to the other will grayson, up onstage. he nods to me. we have something between us, him and me. but the truth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-nod-to-the-other-will-grayson-up-onstage-he-nods-to-me-we-have/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

> [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [“In due course I would learn how to cover up for this event, but on that awful day I knew of nothing to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pryor/in-due-course-i-would-learn-how-to-cover-up-for-this-event-but-on/)

[Karen Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pryor/)

> [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

## More Applause quotes

> [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [“In due course I would learn how to cover up for this event, but on that awful day I knew of nothing to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pryor/in-due-course-i-would-learn-how-to-cover-up-for-this-event-but-on/)

[Karen Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pryor/)

> [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [“i nod to the other will grayson, up onstage. he nods to me. we have something between us, him and me. but the truth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-nod-to-the-other-will-grayson-up-onstage-he-nods-to-me-we-have/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

> [ All the shows we did pre-airdate, and I'd come out - "Rob Lowe!" - and it was \[Offers bored applause.\] After the show aired?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/all-the-shows-we-did-pre-airdate-and-i-d-come-out-rob-lowe-and-it-was/)

[Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/)

> [“Those who do soul work, who want the searing truth more than solace or applause, know each other right away. Those who want something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/those-who-do-soul-work-who-want-the-searing-truth-more-than-solace-or/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's defender.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-clear-that-the-future-of-freedom-and-peace-depend-on-the/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [If anyone ever boos you off stage, that is simply applause from ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/if-anyone-ever-boos-you-off-stage-that-is-simply-applause-from-ghosts/)

[Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/)

> [“A magician must always value his magic effects more than himself, because after few years audience may not remember his name but they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-magician-must-always-value-his-magic-effects-more-than-himself/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When I got through, Duke Ellington stood up and started the applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brown/when-i-got-through-duke-ellington-stood-up-and-started-the-applause/)

[Ruth Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-brown/)

> [The beauteous dragonfly's dancing By the waves of the rivulet glancing; She dances here and she dances there, The glimmering, glittering flutterer fair. Full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/the-beauteous-dragonfly-s-dancing-by-the-waves-of-the-rivulet/)

[Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/)

> [You can copy, but hold the applause you get the satisfaction of mind can not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/you-can-copy-but-hold-the-applause-you-get-the-satisfaction-of-mind/)

[Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/)

> [Qv5YUc A round of applause for your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oem-software-buy/qv5yuc-a-round-of-applause-for-your-blog-really-looking-forward-to/)

[Oem Software Buy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oem-software-buy/)

[Browse all 556 Applause quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“It matters not if the world has heard or approves or understands...the only applause we're meant to seek is that of nail-scarred hands.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "B.J. Hoff"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-hoff/it-matters-not-if-the-world-has-heard-or-approves-or-understands-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Applause"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-hoff/it-matters-not-if-the-world-has-heard-or-approves-or-understands-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/b-j-hoff-221827_applause_it-matters-not-if-the-world-has-heard-or_2735687.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/b-j-hoff-221827_applause_it-matters-not-if-the-world-has-heard-or_2735687.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/b-j-hoff-221827_applause_it-matters-not-if-the-world-has-heard-or_2735687.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It matters not if the world has heard or approves or understands...the only applause we're meant to seek is…” — B.J. Hoff",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "B.J. Hoff",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-hoff/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“It matters not if the world...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-hoff/it-matters-not-if-the-world-has-heard-or-approves-or-understands-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-hoff/it-matters-not-if-the-world-has-heard-or-approves-or-understands-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
