--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You may not be able to convince everyone…" description: "\"You may not be able to convince everyone around you that you're doing the right thing, but you don't have to subject yourself to endless second-guessin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/mallory-ortberg-7200_able_you-may-not-be-able-to-convince-everyone_2118067.jpg" --- # You may not be able to convince everyone around you that… ![“You may not be able to convince everyone around you that you're doing the right thing, but you don't have to subject yourself to endless second-guessing from others, either.” quote by Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/mallory-ortberg-7200_able_you-may-not-be-able-to-convince-everyone_2118067.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/mallory-ortberg-7200_able_you-may-not-be-able-to-convince-everyone_2118067.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/mallory-ortberg-7200_able_you-may-not-be-able-to-convince-everyone_2118067.jpg) > “You may not be able to convince everyone around you that you're doing the right thing, but you don't have to subject yourself to endless second-guessing from others, either.” [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages confidence in one's decisions without needing universal approval, avoiding endless doubt. **In simple terms:** Trust your choices despite others' opinions. Key Takeaway Stay confident, ignore needless criticism. Themes confidence independence decision‑making Mood assertive motivational Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - personal projects - career moves - creative endeavors Key Concepts self‑trust social pressure Questions to Reflect On - What decisions do you second‑guess? - How can you set healthy boundaries? A Different Perspective Constant validation can be paralyzing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing the right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-the-right-thing/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Second guessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-guessing/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s important to know that you're behind, to be able to convince yourself to make sacrifices that get you ahead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shivanee-harshey/it-s-important-to-know-that-you-re-behind-to-be-able-to-convince/) Shivanee Harshey > [I hope that in the days to come, I'll be able to convince my colleagues that I should be one of the candidates that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/i-hope-that-in-the-days-to-come-i-ll-be-able-to-convince-my/) [Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/) > [I am very confident that we will be able to convince all the stakeholders - the shareholders, the governments and the employees, that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakshmi-mittal/i-am-very-confident-that-we-will-be-able-to-convince-all-the/) [Lakshmi Mittal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakshmi-mittal/) > [“It doesn't take much to convince yourself that you're doing okay, just some discretionary income and a regularity to your days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ling-ma/it-doesn-t-take-much-to-convince-yourself-that-you-re-doing-okay-just/) [Ling Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ling-ma/) > [ Manipulating \[is\] just the way to proceed, to convince that what you're doing is important. Is nothing more than that. Everyone is manipulating. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herve-falciani/manipulating-is-just-the-way-to-proceed-to-convince-that-what-you-re/) [Herve Falciani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herve-falciani/) > [One of the nice things about being a private company is operating without the intensity of public glare. It's hard to grow a company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/one-of-the-nice-things-about-being-a-private-company-is-operating/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [Managers have people second-guessing them all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mattingly/managers-have-people-second-guessing-them-all-the-time/) [Don Mattingly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mattingly/) > [If you don't have the confidence, it doesn't matter what you do, you're always second-guessing yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/if-you-don-t-have-the-confidence-it-doesn-t-matter-what-you-do-you-re/) [Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/) > [I don't get into that second guessing of myself publicly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/i-don-t-get-into-that-second-guessing-of-myself-publicly/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [Our brains are no longer conditioned for reverence and awe. We cannot imagine a Second Coming that would not be cut down to size…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/our-brains-are-no-longer-conditioned-for-reverence-and-awe-we-cannot/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [One should make the best choice possible given the circumstances, and then avoid second-guessing for the sake of one's own sanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/one-should-make-the-best-choice-possible-given-the-circumstances-and/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I'm not second-guessing myself as much as I used to, and I'm not second-guessing the people in my life as much as I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asher-keddie/i-m-not-second-guessing-myself-as-much-as-i-used-to-and-i-m-not/) [Asher Keddie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asher-keddie/) > [ You can choose who you want to be the hero \[in Hard Candy\], but youll be second-guessing yourself -- theres just no right answer.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/you-can-choose-who-you-want-to-be-the-hero-in-hard-candy-but-youll-be/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [A miracle worker who can do more with less, pacify rival groups, endure chronic second guessing, tolerate low levels of support, process large volumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fullan/a-miracle-worker-who-can-do-more-with-less-pacify-rival-groups-endure/) [Michael Fullan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fullan/) > [Listen, young people, I understand narcissism - clearly. But at least I have the decency to hate myself. And that's what's missing from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/listen-young-people-i-understand-narcissism-clearly-but-at-least-i/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) ## More by Mallory Ortberg > [Not wanting to give everyone in your life one of your kidneys is not the same thing as hoping they die of kidney failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/not-wanting-to-give-everyone-in-your-life-one-of-your-kidneys-is-not/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [I agree that biphobia is real, but I think it's absolutely worth considering that someone who "despises" having sex with her husband - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-agree-that-biphobia-is-real-but-i-think-it-s-absolutely-worth/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [If you get a dog, take care of your dog! You can just not have a dog if you don't feel like taking care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/if-you-get-a-dog-take-care-of-your-dog-you-can-just-not-have-a-dog-if/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [It is so tempting to return rudeness with rudeness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/it-is-so-tempting-to-return-rudeness-with-rudeness/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [I think that it's a great idea to have honest conversations about children before getting married. I also think it's impossible to promise someone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-think-that-it-s-a-great-idea-to-have-honest-conversations-about/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [Don't beat yourself up over what you dream about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/don-t-beat-yourself-up-over-what-you-dream-about/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [One of the glorious things about being a person in the world is that you don't have to worry about whether or not someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/one-of-the-glorious-things-about-being-a-person-in-the-world-is-that/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [You need to be able to express your resentment and sense of loss in a way that doesn't damage your partner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-need-to-be-able-to-express-your-resentment-and-sense-of-loss-in-a/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [Some people give gifts in order to bewilder, confuse, and manipulate their recipients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/some-people-give-gifts-in-order-to-bewilder-confuse-and-manipulate/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [Unlike celibacy, which people choose, asexuality is an intrinsic part of who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/unlike-celibacy-which-people-choose-asexuality-is-an-intrinsic-part/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [The mere idea of asking a family member if they intentionally stopped sending me an annual bonus makes me feel like breaking out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/the-mere-idea-of-asking-a-family-member-if-they-intentionally-stopped/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [You have a right to be treated professionally at work, and it's your supervisor's job to make sure all their employees can perform their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-have-a-right-to-be-treated-professionally-at-work-and-it-s-your/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [We are all going to die, sometimes even in the middle of a lease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/we-are-all-going-to-die-sometimes-even-in-the-middle-of-a-lease/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [o one is right when it comes to destination weddings. It’s a big ask, requesting people take time off work and fly off to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/o-one-is-right-when-it-comes-to-destination-weddings-it-s-a-big-ask/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [I love the art history ones because it's so little work for me. There's so many paintings that when I look at them, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-love-the-art-history-ones-because-it-s-so-little-work-for-me-there/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) [Explore all 93 Mallory Ortberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [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/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You may not be able to convince everyone around you that you're doing the right thing, but you don't have to subject yourself to endless second-guessing from others, either.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mallory Ortberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-may-not-be-able-to-convince-everyone-around-you-that-you-re-doing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-may-not-be-able-to-convince-everyone-around-you-that-you-re-doing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/mallory-ortberg-7200_able_you-may-not-be-able-to-convince-everyone_2118067.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/mallory-ortberg-7200_able_you-may-not-be-able-to-convince-everyone_2118067.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/mallory-ortberg-7200_able_you-may-not-be-able-to-convince-everyone_2118067.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You may not be able to convince everyone around you that you're doing the right thing, but you don't have to…” — Mallory Ortberg", "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": "Mallory Ortberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You may not be able to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-may-not-be-able-to-convince-everyone-around-you-that-you-re-doing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-may-not-be-able-to-convince-everyone-around-you-that-you-re-doing/#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 } } ] } ```