---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You should resolve not to seek public…"
description: "\"You should resolve not to seek public approval of your private business, when you are not also prepared to accept public disapproval.\" — Judith Martin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/judith-martin-1927_accepting_you-should-resolve-not-to-seek-public-ap_2225953.png"
---

#  You should resolve not to seek public approval of your…

![“You should resolve not to seek public approval of your private business, when you are not also prepared to accept public disapproval.” quote by Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/judith-martin-1927_accepting_you-should-resolve-not-to-seek-public-ap_2225953.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/judith-martin-1927_accepting_you-should-resolve-not-to-seek-public-ap_2225953.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/judith-martin-1927_accepting_you-should-resolve-not-to-seek-public-ap_2225953.png)

> “You should resolve not to seek public approval of your private business, when you are not also prepared to accept public disapproval.”

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

## About This Quote

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

Advocates separating personal business from public scrutiny, urging readiness for both praise and criticism.

**In simple terms:** Don’t seek public approval unless you’re ready for public disapproval.

Key Takeaway

Be prepared for both praise and criticism.

Themes

integrity privacy public perception

Mood

thoughtful cautionary

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- entrepreneurship
- politics
- social media
- non‑profit leadership
- personal branding

Key Concepts

reputation management ethical consistency

Questions to Reflect On

- Are you comfortable with potential criticism?
- What safeguards can protect your reputation?

A Different Perspective

Public scrutiny can be harsh and unpredictable.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Disapproval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disapproval/) [Resolve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolve/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/)

## Related quotes

> [Public disapproval is the price I pay for writing about the royals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-junor/public-disapproval-is-the-price-i-pay-for-writing-about-the-royals/)

[Penny Junor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-junor/)

> [You have to accept that if you do a public job you're going to be publicly satirised. You have to build a carapace: if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/you-have-to-accept-that-if-you-do-a-public-job-you-re-going-to-be/)

[Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/)

> [Next to the disapproval of our friends, the approval of our enemies is most to be dreaded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-feuillet/next-to-the-disapproval-of-our-friends-the-approval-of-our-enemies-is/)

[Octave Feuillet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-feuillet/)

> [Since the truth may not be what we would prefer. It is revealing that so many people today express approval by saying, "I'm comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-groothuis/since-the-truth-may-not-be-what-we-would-prefer-it-is-revealing-that/)

[Douglas Groothuis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-groothuis/)

> [Do women dress for men or women? I’ve always wondered why that eternally provocative question is put in terms of approval - as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-friday/do-women-dress-for-men-or-women-i-ve-always-wondered-why-that/)

[Nancy Friday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-friday/)

> [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/)

> [Hang your merit. I don't seek anyone's approbation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hang-your-merit-i-don-t-seek-anyone-s-approbation/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [ The very term \['mental disease'\] is nonsensical, a semantic mistake. The two words cannot go together except metaphorically; you can no more have a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-fuller-torrey/the-very-term-mental-disease-is-nonsensical-a-semantic-mistake-the/)

[E. Fuller Torrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-fuller-torrey/)

> [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/)

> [I do not have any official responsibilities related to the Australian Olympic Committee or the Federation of Athletic Associations since I am too busy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-do-not-have-any-official-responsibilities-related-to-the-australian/)

[Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/)

> [The Republican platform specifically says we don't believe in bailing out private business, and yet we did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-republican-platform-specifically-says-we-don-t-believe-in-bailing/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [Between the Great Depression and the 1970s, private business was viewed with suspicion even in most capitalist economies. Businesses were, so the story goes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/between-the-great-depression-and-the-1970s-private-business-was/)

[Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/)

> [When the government makes loans or subsidies to business, what it does is to tax successful private business in order to support unsuccessful private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/when-the-government-makes-loans-or-subsidies-to-business-what-it-does/)

[Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/)

> [If you're working as secretary of state but half of your emails are about your own private business, since when is secretary of state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-you-re-working-as-secretary-of-state-but-half-of-your-emails-are/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [There are no laws that prohibit an American president from continuing to be involved in their private business matters while in office, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-martin/there-are-no-laws-that-prohibit-an-american-president-from-continuing/)

[Rachel Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-martin/)

## More by Judith Martin

> [Smart people duck when they hear the dread announcement 'I'm going to be perfectly honest with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/smart-people-duck-when-they-hear-the-dread-announcement-i-m-going-to/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [If you put together all the ingredients that naturally attract children - sex, violence, revenge, spectacle and vigorous noise - what you have is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/if-you-put-together-all-the-ingredients-that-naturally-attract/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [The one prediction that never comes true is, 'You'll thank me for telling you this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-one-prediction-that-never-comes-true-is-you-ll-thank-me-for/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [Chaperons, even in their days of glory, were almost never able to enforce morality; what they did was to force immorality to be discreet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/chaperons-even-in-their-days-of-glory-were-almost-never-able-to/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [There are always proper responses, even to rude questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/there-are-always-proper-responses-even-to-rude-questions/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [Perhaps the greatest rudenesses of our time come not from the callousness of strangers, but from the solicitousness of intimates who believe that their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/perhaps-the-greatest-rudenesses-of-our-time-come-not-from-the/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [We are all entitled to our little harmless habits, but we are not entitled to demand approval for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/we-are-all-entitled-to-our-little-harmless-habits-but-we-are-not/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [“Lady” is not used before the lady’s first name unless she is the daughter of a duke, marquess or earl; those who come by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/lady-is-not-used-before-the-lady-s-first-name-unless-she-is-the/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [Greece is a good place for rebirths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/greece-is-a-good-place-for-rebirths/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [Adorable children are considered to be the general property of the human race. Rude children belong to their mothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/adorable-children-are-considered-to-be-the-general-property-of-the/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [I have always believed that the key to a happy marriage was the ability to say with a straight face, 'Why, I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/i-have-always-believed-that-the-key-to-a-happy-marriage-was-the/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [It is, indeed, a trial to maintain the virtue of humility when one can't help being right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/it-is-indeed-a-trial-to-maintain-the-virtue-of-humility-when-one-can/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [Honesty is a virtue, but not the only one. If you're in a courtroom you need the whole truth and nothing but the truth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/honesty-is-a-virtue-but-not-the-only-one-if-you-re-in-a-courtroom-you/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [Only a person who considers himself too good for you is good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/only-a-person-who-considers-himself-too-good-for-you-is-good-enough/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [Society cannot exist without etiquette ... It never has, and until our own century, everybody knew that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/society-cannot-exist-without-etiquette-it-never-has-and-until-our-own/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

[Explore all 197 Judith Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

## More Accepting quotes

> [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/)

[Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/)

> [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/)

[Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/)

> [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/)

[Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/)

> [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/)

[Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/)

> [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/)

[Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/)

> [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/)

[John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/)

> [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/)

[Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/)

Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You should resolve not to seek public approval of your private business, when you are not also prepared to accept public disapproval.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Judith Martin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/you-should-resolve-not-to-seek-public-approval-of-your-private/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accepting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/you-should-resolve-not-to-seek-public-approval-of-your-private/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/judith-martin-1927_accepting_you-should-resolve-not-to-seek-public-ap_2225953.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/judith-martin-1927_accepting_you-should-resolve-not-to-seek-public-ap_2225953.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/judith-martin-1927_accepting_you-should-resolve-not-to-seek-public-ap_2225953.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You should resolve not to seek public approval of your private business, when you are not also prepared to…” — Judith Martin",
                "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": "Judith Martin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You should resolve not to seek...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/you-should-resolve-not-to-seek-public-approval-of-your-private/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/you-should-resolve-not-to-seek-public-approval-of-your-private/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```