--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we let others control us by the…" description: "\"When we let others control us by the threat of disapproval and rejection, we give up far too much of ourselves and make it impossible for us to engage ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/george-robinson-71490_being-yourself_when-we-let-others-control-us-by-the-thr_591495.jpg" --- # When we let others control us by the threat of disapproval… ![“When we let others control us by the threat of disapproval and rejection, we give up far too much of ourselves and make it impossible for us to engage in authentic relationships.” quote by George Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/george-robinson-71490_being-yourself_when-we-let-others-control-us-by-the-thr_591495.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/george-robinson-71490_being-yourself_when-we-let-others-control-us-by-the-thr_591495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/george-robinson-71490_being-yourself_when-we-let-others-control-us-by-the-thr_591495.jpg) > “When we let others control us by the threat of disapproval and rejection, we give up far too much of ourselves and make it impossible for us to engage in authentic relationships.” George Robinson ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relying on others' approval erodes self‑identity and blocks genuine connection. **In simple terms:** Seeking approval harms authenticity and relationships. Key Takeaway Prioritize self‑acceptance over others' judgments. Themes authenticity self‑esteem relationships Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - dating - teamwork - family dynamics Key Concepts psychology social influence Questions to Reflect On - How does seeking approval shape your behavior? - What would change if you valued yourself more? A Different Perspective Approval dependence can limit personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-yourself/) [Disapproval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disapproval/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Heartbreak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartbreak/) [Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) ## Related quotes > [“Loving yourself is required for authentic relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/loving-yourself-is-required-for-authentic-relationships/) [Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/) > [To build authentic relationships you need to lead with generosity & serve them first](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ferrazzi/to-build-authentic-relationships-you-need-to-lead-with-generosity/) [Keith Ferrazzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ferrazzi/) > [“All the luminous and loving episodes of any relationship you have had in your life continue to exist in the present at all times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franco-santoro/all-the-luminous-and-loving-episodes-of-any-relationship-you-have-had/) [Franco Santoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franco-santoro/) > [“Authentic relationships always require vulnerability and always the type of vulnerability that at times may feel deeply uncomfortable. Being known and seeking to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-abell/authentic-relationships-always-require-vulnerability-and-always-the/) Sarah Abell > [Another way to put an end to self-rejection is ask yourself whether what you're telling yourself is what a friend would say, or what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-kirshenbaum/another-way-to-put-an-end-to-self-rejection-is-ask-yourself-whether/) [Mira Kirshenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-kirshenbaum/) > [Say to yourself: 'Living essentially to please others is a monumental mistake.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-robinson/say-to-yourself-living-essentially-to-please-others-is-a-monumental/) George Robinson > [Don't look left nor right and never compete. Never. Watching the other guy is what kills all forms of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-vreeland/don-t-look-left-nor-right-and-never-compete-never-watching-the-other/) [Diana Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-vreeland/) > [The heart wants what the heart wants," she says, somewhat cryptically. I purse my lips in disapproval. "You'd think the heart would know better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-heart-wants-what-the-heart-wants-she-says-somewhat-cryptically-i/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“Looks like Faye's doing a little extracurricular activity," a voice behind her murmured, and Cassie turned gratefully. Nick nodded at the guy who was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/looks-like-faye-s-doing-a-little-extracurricular-activity-a-voice/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [No man likes to live under the eye of perpetual disapprobation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/no-man-likes-to-live-under-the-eye-of-perpetual-disapprobation/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Collective judgment of new ideas is so often wrong that it is arguable that progress depends on individuals being free to back their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-arthur-lewis/collective-judgment-of-new-ideas-is-so-often-wrong-that-it-is/) W. Arthur Lewis > [Anger is the ultimate troublemaker. I feel you can express a strong disapproval or dislike of an object without losing your temper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/anger-is-the-ultimate-troublemaker-i-feel-you-can-express-a-strong/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Disapproval is a very important factor in all progress. There has really never been any progress without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-henry-breasted/disapproval-is-a-very-important-factor-in-all-progress-there-has/) [James Henry Breasted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-henry-breasted/) > [“Approval is overrated. Approval and disapproval alike satisfy those who deliver it more than those who receive it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/approval-is-overrated-approval-and-disapproval-alike-satisfy-those/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## More by George Robinson > [Say to yourself: 'Living essentially to please others is a monumental mistake.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-robinson/say-to-yourself-living-essentially-to-please-others-is-a-monumental/) George Robinson > [In the end, trying to be perfect is the unconscious social effort to please ourselves by pleasing these others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-robinson/in-the-end-trying-to-be-perfect-is-the-unconscious-social-effort-to/) George Robinson > [Rather than being taught to accept ourselves, we were trained to make ourselves socially acceptable. And whenever we fail, we suffer inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-robinson/rather-than-being-taught-to-accept-ourselves-we-were-trained-to-make/) George Robinson Explore all 4 George Robinson quotes ## More Being yourself quotes > [Make-up can't cover up an ugly personality!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/make-up-can-t-cover-up-an-ugly-personality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/if-you-can-t-love-yourself-how-in-the-hell-you-gonna-love-somebody/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [There is nothing to do, just be. Do nothing. Be. No climbing mountains and sitting in caves. I do not even say "be yourself"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/there-is-nothing-to-do-just-be-do-nothing-be-no-climbing-mountains/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [The thing about a pick-up line is, even if it works, then what? I just figure you unapologetically be yourself, and if it works,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-astin/the-thing-about-a-pick-up-line-is-even-if-it-works-then-what-i-just/) [Skylar Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-astin/) > [Say to yourself: 'Living essentially to please others is a monumental mistake.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-robinson/say-to-yourself-living-essentially-to-please-others-is-a-monumental/) George Robinson > [About all you can do in life is be who you are. Some people will love you for you. Most will love you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/about-all-you-can-do-in-life-is-be-who-you-are-some-people-will-love/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [If you don't feel free and be yourself, you can't connect. Find people who accept your quirks. They'll heal your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/if-you-don-t-feel-free-and-be-yourself-you-can-t-connect-find-people/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [Give yourself a chance to live because nobody will live it for you when you die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-yourself-a-chance-to-live-because-nobody-will-live-it-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not pretty,I'm not smart.I'm not perfect and some people don't think I'm worth it.But if you look inside and see,you will see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-price/i-m-not-pretty-i-m-not-smart-i-m-not-perfect-and-some-people-don-t/) Lexi Price > [Your not born knowing what sex you like because you don't know what your feelings are, then before you know what sex you like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brown/your-not-born-knowing-what-sex-you-like-because-you-don-t-know-what/) [Charlie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brown/) > [You can't be everything to everyone. No matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks differently. So concentrate on doing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kitavi/you-can-t-be-everything-to-everyone-no-matter-what-you-do-there-will/) Jonathan Kitavi > [The clashes of people and the clashes of cultures have assisted me in learning the openness you have to be a part of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kissey/the-clashes-of-people-and-the-clashes-of-cultures-have-assisted-me-in/) [Kissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kissey/) > [Celebrate all the things you don't like about yourself. love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/celebrate-all-the-things-you-don-t-like-about-yourself-love-yourself/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“If you're the smartest person in the room, you might wanna switch rooms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-newby/if-you-re-the-smartest-person-in-the-room-you-might-wanna-switch-rooms/) [Sabrina Newby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-newby/) > [Stop trying to impress other and start impressing yourself !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kale-bell/stop-trying-to-impress-other-and-start-impressing-yourself/) [Kale Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kale-bell/) [Browse all 1,461 Being yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we let others control us by the threat of disapproval and rejection, we give up far too much of ourselves and make it impossible for us to engage in authentic relationships.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Robinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-robinson/when-we-let-others-control-us-by-the-threat-of-disapproval-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being yourself" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-robinson/when-we-let-others-control-us-by-the-threat-of-disapproval-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/george-robinson-71490_being-yourself_when-we-let-others-control-us-by-the-thr_591495.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/george-robinson-71490_being-yourself_when-we-let-others-control-us-by-the-thr_591495.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/george-robinson-71490_being-yourself_when-we-let-others-control-us-by-the-thr_591495.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we let others control us by the threat of disapproval and rejection, we give up far too much of…” — George Robinson", "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": "George Robinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-robinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we let others control us...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-robinson/when-we-let-others-control-us-by-the-threat-of-disapproval-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-robinson/when-we-let-others-control-us-by-the-threat-of-disapproval-and/#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 } } ] } ```