--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A life spent ceaselessly trying to please…" description: "\"A life spent ceaselessly trying to please people who, perhaps, are incapable of ever being pleased, or trying too hard to always be seen as doing the r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/melchor-lim-61_doing-the-right-thin_a-life-spent-ceaselessly-trying-to-pleas_1763273.jpg" --- # A life spent ceaselessly trying to please people who… ![“A life spent ceaselessly trying to please people who, perhaps, are incapable of ever being pleased, or trying too hard to always be seen as doing the right thing, is a sure road to a regretful existence.” quote by Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/melchor-lim-61_doing-the-right-thin_a-life-spent-ceaselessly-trying-to-pleas_1763273.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/melchor-lim-61_doing-the-right-thin_a-life-spent-ceaselessly-trying-to-pleas_1763273.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/melchor-lim-61_doing-the-right-thin_a-life-spent-ceaselessly-trying-to-pleas_1763273.jpg) > “A life spent ceaselessly trying to please people who, perhaps, are incapable of ever being pleased, or trying too hard to always be seen as doing the right thing, is a sure road to a regretful existence.” [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Constantly seeking external approval leads to regret; true satisfaction comes from internal standards. **In simple terms:** Seeking approval causes regret. Key Takeaway Set personal standards, not others'. Themes self‑esteem regret authenticity Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationship building - career decisions - personal development Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What standards truly matter to you? - How do you balance authenticity with social harmony? A Different Perspective Might ignore constructive feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ceaselessly Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceaselessly-trying-1711481/) [Doing the right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-the-right-thing/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People Incapable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-incapable-1105476/) [Regretful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regretful/) [Regretful Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regretful-existence-1711479/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Road Regretful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/road-regretful-1711480/) [Trying too hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-too-hard/) ## Related quotes > [“The belief that young people are incapable of making reasonable decisions is a cornerstone of our system of compulsory, closely monitored education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-gray/the-belief-that-young-people-are-incapable-of-making-reasonable/) [Peter O. Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-gray/) > [“In a way, the world-view of the Party imposed itself most successfully on people incapable of understanding it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-a-way-the-world-view-of-the-party-imposed-itself-most-successfully-2/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“desperate people are incapable of making good decisions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minka-kent/desperate-people-are-incapable-of-making-good-decisions/) [Minka Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minka-kent/) > [The idea that people are incapable of making up their own minds about people is something that Obama and his party live with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-idea-that-people-are-incapable-of-making-up-their-own-minds-about/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There are moments when people are incapable of understanding happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/there-are-moments-when-people-are-incapable-of-understanding-happiness/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [In a way, the world−view of the Party imposed itself most successfully on people incapable of understanding it. They could be made to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-a-way-the-world-view-of-the-party-imposed-itself-most-successfully/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“You know people like this, right? People who are incapable of enjoying anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/you-know-people-like-this-right-people-who-are-incapable-of-enjoying/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [Some people are incapable of perceiving in the object of their contemplation the very thing that gives it its intrinsic life and breath, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/some-people-are-incapable-of-perceiving-in-the-object-of-their-2/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [“...some people are incapable of love - they have calloused souls...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/some-people-are-incapable-of-love-they-have-calloused-souls/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [People who are incapable of having any kind of intimate relationship have to turn to feeling this incredible hunger and void, have to turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-connelly/people-who-are-incapable-of-having-any-kind-of-intimate-relationship/) [Jennifer Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-connelly/) > [People who create things nowadays can expect to be prosecuted by highly moralistic people who are incapable of creating anything. There is no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/people-who-create-things-nowadays-can-expect-to-be-prosecuted-by/) [Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sobran/) > [“I certainly find it difficult to relate to people who seem incapable of doing anything on their own, needing company even whilst simply watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/i-certainly-find-it-difficult-to-relate-to-people-who-seem-incapable/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [The people who, during the election, were so wise, so moral, so perfect, now have no tendencies whatever; or if they have any, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-people-who-during-the-election-were-so-wise-so-moral-so-perfect/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Some people are incapable of perceiving in the object of their contemplation the very thing that gives it its intrinsic life and breath,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/some-people-are-incapable-of-perceiving-in-the-object-of-their/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [you cannot give to people what they are incapable of receiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/you-cannot-give-to-people-what-they-are-incapable-of-receiving/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) ## More by Melchor Lim > [The premises from which we begin are not arbitrary ones, not dogmas, but real premises from which abstraction can only be made in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-premises-from-which-we-begin-are-not-arbitrary-ones-not-dogmas/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Beware of the strong possibility that any state of a human, whether good or bad, might be the case of any other fellow human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/beware-of-the-strong-possibility-that-any-state-of-a-human-whether/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Every day brings new lessons and new possibilities. There is always a way to take the next step forward on the path you've chosen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/every-day-brings-new-lessons-and-new-possibilities-there-is-always-a/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Money should be ones demand and command one should not become slave of money..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/money-should-be-ones-demand-and-command-one-should-not-become-slave/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [When you give your 100% to your compromises then they become sacrifices… And sacrifices never hurt us,they give us a smile on our face,a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/when-you-give-your-100-to-your-compromises-then-they-become/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Instead of taking one step at a time, I run and fall on purpose. It makes life more fun. Besides you'll know when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/instead-of-taking-one-step-at-a-time-i-run-and-fall-on-purpose-it/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [An obstacle is often a stepping stone... Things that appear to be obstacles are often helpful in the long run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/an-obstacle-is-often-a-stepping-stone-things-that-appear-to-be/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Set urself free…no guts no glory...live ur life the way u wnt it...and no regrets…u hve ur own way of a living...keep it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/set-urself-free-no-guts-no-glory-live-ur-life-the-way-u-wnt-it-and-no/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Success is not as sweet if youve never experienced failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/success-is-not-as-sweet-if-youve-never-experienced-failure/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [So many people wait around for the stars to align to do what they're here to do. The perfect moment, the perfect opportunity, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/so-many-people-wait-around-for-the-stars-to-align-to-do-what-they-re/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [When a boy tells a girl something she doesn't like she will remember it forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/when-a-boy-tells-a-girl-something-she-doesn-t-like-she-will-remember/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [The things you do determine the way people perceive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-things-you-do-determine-the-way-people-perceive-you/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [If a girl cries for you, then think surely she loves you truly... ... and if a boy cries for you then don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-a-girl-cries-for-you-then-think-surely-she-loves-you-truly-and-if/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [If you want an interesting life. Become interested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-want-an-interesting-life-become-interested/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) [Explore all 1,730 Melchor Lim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) ## More Doing the right thing quotes > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [Money will come to you when you are doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phillips/money-will-come-to-you-when-you-are-doing-the-right-thing/) [Michael Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phillips/) > [It's all about doing the right things at the right times and I believe I can win everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-cross/it-s-all-about-doing-the-right-things-at-the-right-times-and-i/) [Rob Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-cross/) > [You should never be proud of doing the right thing. You should just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/you-should-never-be-proud-of-doing-the-right-thing-you-should-just-do/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [“Management is about doing things right; leadership is about doing the right things. Peter Drucker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-banfield/management-is-about-doing-things-right-leadership-is-about-doing-the/) [Richard Banfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-banfield/) > [There are certain things that we can deal with by following the rules. But at times, we find the rules restrict you from doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/there-are-certain-things-that-we-can-deal-with-by-following-the-rules/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [Never let making a profit stand in the way of doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-jenkins/never-let-making-a-profit-stand-in-the-way-of-doing-the-right-thing/) [George W. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-jenkins/) > [“Doing the right thing causes us to stand taller, dance more often, and step into life with more confidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patsy-clairmont/doing-the-right-thing-causes-us-to-stand-taller-dance-more-often-and/) [Patsy Clairmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patsy-clairmont/) > [“Health, peace of mind, peak performance, and success in any area of life all depend upon doing the right thing at the right time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobe-hanson/health-peace-of-mind-peak-performance-and-success-in-any-area-of-life/) [Tobe Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobe-hanson/) > [Sometimes you have to steer away from the crowd in order to be a better person. It's not always easy, that's for sure. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/sometimes-you-have-to-steer-away-from-the-crowd-in-order-to-be-a/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [Doing the right thing at all costs is an absolute, and only a sith deals in absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/doing-the-right-thing-at-all-costs-is-an-absolute-and-only-a-sith/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [ \[If\] we can celebrate that in a way that celebrates our love for New England as well as our love for the Italian culture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/if-we-can-celebrate-that-in-a-way-that-celebrates-our-love-for-new/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [“What sort of man could you love for a lifetime?" he asked her. She was silent for a while. He guessed that she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/what-sort-of-man-could-you-love-for-a-lifetime-he-asked-her-she-was/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [Sometimes you cannot do anything because the guy in front of you is playing well and he's doing the right things to make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-wilfried-tsonga/sometimes-you-cannot-do-anything-because-the-guy-in-front-of-you-is/) [Jo-Wilfried Tsonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-wilfried-tsonga/) > [Being trustworthy requires: Doing the right thing. And doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-peppers/being-trustworthy-requires-doing-the-right-thing-and-doing-things/) [Don Peppers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-peppers/) [Browse all 619 Doing the right thing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-the-right-thing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A life spent ceaselessly trying to please people who, perhaps, are incapable of ever being pleased, or trying too hard to always be seen as doing the right thing, is a sure road to a regretful existence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Melchor Lim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/a-life-spent-ceaselessly-trying-to-please-people-who-perhaps-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doing the right thing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/a-life-spent-ceaselessly-trying-to-please-people-who-perhaps-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/melchor-lim-61_doing-the-right-thin_a-life-spent-ceaselessly-trying-to-pleas_1763273.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/melchor-lim-61_doing-the-right-thin_a-life-spent-ceaselessly-trying-to-pleas_1763273.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/melchor-lim-61_doing-the-right-thin_a-life-spent-ceaselessly-trying-to-pleas_1763273.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A life spent ceaselessly trying to please people who, perhaps, are incapable of ever being pleased, or…” — Melchor Lim", "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": "Melchor Lim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A life spent ceaselessly trying to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/a-life-spent-ceaselessly-trying-to-please-people-who-perhaps-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/a-life-spent-ceaselessly-trying-to-please-people-who-perhaps-are/#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 } } ] } ```