--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doesn't bother me. Sure, everybody…" description: "\"It doesn't bother me. Sure, everybody wants approval, but I came from the theatre and I've always treasured a remark from there which goes: 'For every ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/robert-ludlum-12958_approval_it-doesn-t-bother-me-sure-everybody-want_2889429.jpg" --- # It doesn't bother me. Sure, everybody wants approval, but… ![“It doesn't bother me. Sure, everybody wants approval, but I came from the theatre and I've always treasured a remark from there which goes: 'For every six people who love you, there will be half a dozen who loathe you.' The quality of an author's work is not usually determined until after his…” quote by Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/robert-ludlum-12958_approval_it-doesn-t-bother-me-sure-everybody-want_2889429.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/robert-ludlum-12958_approval_it-doesn-t-bother-me-sure-everybody-want_2889429.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/robert-ludlum-12958_approval_it-doesn-t-bother-me-sure-everybody-want_2889429.jpg) > “It doesn't bother me. Sure, everybody wants approval, but I came from the theatre and I've always treasured a remark from there which goes: 'For every six people who love you, there will be half a dozen who loathe you.' The quality of an author's work is not usually determined until after his death. Even Dickens got some pretty bad reviews.” [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Approval varies; success often recognized posthumously; even greats face criticism. **In simple terms:** Fame and criticism are unpredictable; lasting impact may emerge later. Key Takeaway Accept criticism, focus on lasting work. Themes creativity legacy criticism Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - writing - publishing - artistic development Key Concepts authorial reputation posthumous recognition public perception Questions to Reflect On - How will you measure your work's true value? - Can criticism be a catalyst for growth? A Different Perspective Critics can distort early reception of work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Bad reviews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-reviews/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Treasured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treasured/) ## Related quotes > [To me, I read good reviews in lots of papers and bad reviews in lots of papers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-nevins/to-me-i-read-good-reviews-in-lots-of-papers-and-bad-reviews-in-lots/) [Sheila Nevins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-nevins/) > [“He writes the worst English that I have ever encountered. It reminds me of a string of wet sponges; it reminds me of tattered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/he-writes-the-worst-english-that-i-have-ever-encountered-it-reminds/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [Bad reviews come with everything. I've been getting them my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-friedle/bad-reviews-come-with-everything-i-ve-been-getting-them-my-whole-life/) [Will Friedle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-friedle/) > [“Mr. Melville is evidently trying to ascertain how far the public will consent to be imposed upon. He is gauging, at once, our gullibilty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-o-sullivan/mr-melville-is-evidently-trying-to-ascertain-how-far-the-public-will/) John L. O'Sullivan > [If I get a bad review, I dont take it personally because everyone is entitled to their opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-gates/if-i-get-a-bad-review-i-dont-take-it-personally-because-everyone-is/) [Gareth Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-gates/) > [The critics gave me bad reviews on every movie I made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/the-critics-gave-me-bad-reviews-on-every-movie-i-made/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [I was very vulnerable to criticism for many years. I could read a bad review and remember it my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/i-was-very-vulnerable-to-criticism-for-many-years-i-could-read-a-bad/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [Life is stranger than fiction. It's nice to have stuff that people don't know about. And it helps when you read a bad review.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-lundgren/life-is-stranger-than-fiction-it-s-nice-to-have-stuff-that-people-don/) [Dolph Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-lundgren/) > [ “\[Ulysses\] appears to have been written by a perverted lunatic who has made a speciality of the literature of the latrine… I have no… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aramis/ulysses-appears-to-have-been-written-by-a-perverted-lunatic-who-has/) Aramis > [The funny thing is that some reviews are published in magazines and websites that are seen by millions of people, and other reviews are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/the-funny-thing-is-that-some-reviews-are-published-in-magazines-and/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [ “\[Leaves of Grass is\] monstrous because it pretends to persuade the soul while it slights the intellect; because it pretends to gratify the feelings… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/leaves-of-grass-is-monstrous-because-it-pretends-to-persuade-the-soul/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [One bad review doesn't ruin my day because I realize what a badge of honor it is to get a bit of criticism at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/one-bad-review-doesn-t-ruin-my-day-because-i-realize-what-a-badge-of/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I think you remember certain phrases from bad reviews. You don't remember all the bad reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/i-think-you-remember-certain-phrases-from-bad-reviews-you-don-t/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I've never worked for a newspaper. I've had some very bad reviews in newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-ve-never-worked-for-a-newspaper-i-ve-had-some-very-bad-reviews-in/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [When you are one of the best coaches in the world, it is normal to attract bad reviews if you lose a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ander-herrera/when-you-are-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-it-is-normal-to/) [Ander Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ander-herrera/) ## More by Robert Ludlum > [I see things and I hear things I do not understand. I'm a skilled, resourceful... vegetable!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/i-see-things-and-i-hear-things-i-do-not-understand-i-m-a-skilled/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [Blessed are the flexible for they will not allow themselves to become bent out of shape!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/blessed-are-the-flexible-for-they-will-not-allow-themselves-to-become/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [I try as best I can to enter the realm of nuances of human behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/i-try-as-best-i-can-to-enter-the-realm-of-nuances-of-human-behavior/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [“he'd long ago accepted the fact that berlin more than suspected him. in a way it was his protection; he'd by no means won…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/he-d-long-ago-accepted-the-fact-that-berlin-more-than-suspected-him/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [A man's weaknesses may intrude on his faith but they do not diminish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/a-man-s-weaknesses-may-intrude-on-his-faith-but-they-do-not-diminish/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [“Before taking her into the library, my wife told me she was an old friend in a marriage crisis. A fatuous lie; at her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/before-taking-her-into-the-library-my-wife-told-me-she-was-an-old/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [Perhaps conscience did not always produce cowards. Sometimes it made a man feel better about himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/perhaps-conscience-did-not-always-produce-cowards-sometimes-it-made-a/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [What a man can't remember doesn't exist for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/what-a-man-can-t-remember-doesn-t-exist-for-him/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [“Two people were not one,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/two-people-were-not-one/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [Greater economic power will be in the hands of too few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/greater-economic-power-will-be-in-the-hands-of-too-few/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [The success of any trap lies in its fundamental simplicity. The reverse trap by the nature of its single complication must be swift and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/the-success-of-any-trap-lies-in-its-fundamental-simplicity-the/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [“I loathe him. He stands for everything I hate in Washington. The right schools, houses in Georgetown, farms in Virginia, quiet meetings at their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/i-loathe-him-he-stands-for-everything-i-hate-in-washington-the-right/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [A theater person should know what holds an audience and what does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/a-theater-person-should-know-what-holds-an-audience-and-what-does-not/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [How gratifying to be there when arrogance collapses. How much more so to be the instrument. (Alfred Gillette)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/how-gratifying-to-be-there-when-arrogance-collapses-how-much-more-so/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [“You're on tenth base, I can't find you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/you-re-on-tenth-base-i-can-t-find-you/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) [Explore all 52 Robert Ludlum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) ## More Approval quotes > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Lean too much on the approval of people, and it becomes a bed of thorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehyi-hsieh/lean-too-much-on-the-approval-of-people-and-it-becomes-a-bed-of-thorns/) [Tehyi Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehyi-hsieh/) > [But I always reassure them that as far as my contractual rights can go, I will protect them and make sure that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/but-i-always-reassure-them-that-as-far-as-my-contractual-rights-can/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [Growing up in that fashion is a breeding ground for insecurity and doubt; it also leaves you questioning motives. It took me a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-runyon/growing-up-in-that-fashion-is-a-breeding-ground-for-insecurity-and/) [Damon Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-runyon/) > [A year ago, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the supreme court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-year-ago-my-approval-rating-was-in-the-30s-my-nominee-for-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [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/) > [These days people are mean to people just because they don't like the way they look. No-one should be hated because of their flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/these-days-people-are-mean-to-people-just-because-they-don-t-like-the/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I got this emptiness inside that got me fighting for approval because I missed out on my daddy saying, Way to Go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-got-this-emptiness-inside-that-got-me-fighting-for-approval-because/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [My dad taught me swears when I was a toddler, and I saw, at a really early age, that if I shocked people, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/my-dad-taught-me-swears-when-i-was-a-toddler-and-i-saw-at-a-really/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Comedy is a very approval-oriented field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/comedy-is-a-very-approval-oriented-field/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Whenever you are too worried about someone else's approval, that person loses respect for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/whenever-you-are-too-worried-about-someone-else-s-approval-that/) [Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/) > [Pleasure is Nature's test, her sign of approval.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/pleasure-is-nature-s-test-her-sign-of-approval/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Do you really mean the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward? That's not morality, that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/do-you-really-mean-the-only-reason-you-try-to-be-good-is-to-gain-god/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Browse all 904 Approval quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It doesn't bother me. Sure, everybody wants approval, but I came from the theatre and I've always treasured a remark from there which goes: 'For every six people who love you, there will be half a dozen who loathe you.' The quality of an author's work is not usually determined until after his death. 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