--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is impossible to stand upright when…" description: "\"It is impossible to stand upright when one plants his roots in the shifting sands of popular opinion and approval.\" — Thomas S. Monson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/thomas-s-monson-409_approval_it-is-impossible-to-stand-upright-when-o_2978831.png" --- # It is impossible to stand upright when one plants his… ![“It is impossible to stand upright when one plants his roots in the shifting sands of popular opinion and approval.” quote by Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/thomas-s-monson-409_approval_it-is-impossible-to-stand-upright-when-o_2978831.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/thomas-s-monson-409_approval_it-is-impossible-to-stand-upright-when-o_2978831.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/thomas-s-monson-409_approval_it-is-impossible-to-stand-upright-when-o_2978831.png) > “It is impossible to stand upright when one plants his roots in the shifting sands of popular opinion and approval.” [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Standing firm in personal convictions is hard when societal opinions constantly shift. **In simple terms:** Holding true values is tough amid changing opinions. Key Takeaway Stay grounded in personal principles. Themes integrity societal pressure values Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - personal decision‑making - community influence Key Concepts conformity authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What core values anchor you? - How do you balance personal truth with social acceptance? A Different Perspective Opposing popular opinion may lead to isolation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Impossible Stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-stand-461567/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Popular opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popular-opinion/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Roots Shifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots-shifting-4622679/) [Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sand/) [Shifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shifting/) [Shifting sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shifting-sand/) [Shifting Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shifting-sands-2932185/) [Stand Upright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-upright-869155/) ## Related quotes > [Expedients are for an hour, but principles are for the ages. Just because the rains descend and winds blow, we cannot afford to build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/expedients-are-for-an-hour-but-principles-are-for-the-ages-just/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Studios and networks who ignore either shift — whether the increasing sophistication of storytelling, or the constantly shifting sands of technological advancement — will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/studios-and-networks-who-ignore-either-shift-whether-the-increasing/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Expedients are for the hour, but principles are for the ages. 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The important thing is to be flexible!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/standing-upright-is-not-a-talent-because-a-brainless-wooden-beam-can/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/it-is-hard-for-an-empty-bag-to-stand-upright/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The tombstone is about the only thing that can stand upright and lie on its face at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wilson-little/the-tombstone-is-about-the-only-thing-that-can-stand-upright-and-lie/) [Mary Wilson Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wilson-little/) > [The greatest victory for man is not that his dreams were fulfilled but it is that to stand upright even when none of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-greatest-victory-for-man-is-not-that-his-dreams-were-fulfilled/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Thomas S. Monson > [I know that God loves us. He allows us to exercise our moral agency even when we misuse it. He permits us to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-know-that-god-loves-us-he-allows-us-to-exercise-our-moral-agency/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [“Some find it difficult to withstand the mocking and unsavory remarks of foolish ones who ridicule chastity, honesty, and obedience to God’s commands. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/some-find-it-difficult-to-withstand-the-mocking-and-unsavory-remarks/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Choose your love, Love your choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/choose-your-love-love-your-choice/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [I ask you to make INSTITUTE a PRIORITY.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-ask-you-to-make-institute-a-priority/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Those who grieve frequently find themselves alone. Missed is the laughter of children, the commotion of teenagers, and the tender, loving concern of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-grieve-frequently-find-themselves-alone-missed-is-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [I hope with all my heart and soul that every young man who receives the priesthood will honor that priesthood and be true to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-hope-with-all-my-heart-and-soul-that-every-young-man-who-receives/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [“Forgiveness should go hand in hand with love. In our families, as well as with our friends, there can be hurt feelings and disagreements.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/forgiveness-should-go-hand-in-hand-with-love-in-our-families-as-well/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [“Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/born-in-a-stable-cradled-in-a-manger-he-came-forth-from-heaven-to/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [“A happy home is but and earlier Heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/a-happy-home-is-but-and-earlier-heaven/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends forth to you an earnest appeal. Open your doors to the missionaries. Open your minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-sends-forth-to-you-an/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [This is my philosophy on all life, not just when it comes to love. All the best things are terrifying, but that's why they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/this-is-my-philosophy-on-all-life-not-just-when-it-comes-to-love-all/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness... We are the Lord’s hands here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/we-are-surrounded-by-those-in-need-of-our-attention-our-encouragement/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [You have a heritage honor it. You have posses a testimony share it. You will face temptations withstand it. You know the truth live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/you-have-a-heritage-honor-it-you-have-posses-a-testimony-share-it-you/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [We learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/we-learn-and-grow-and-become-stronger-as-we-face-and-survive-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [I am certain that the Lord, who notes the fall of a sparrow, looks with compassion upon those who have been called upon to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-am-certain-that-the-lord-who-notes-the-fall-of-a-sparrow-looks-with/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) [Explore all 586 Thomas S. Monson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) ## 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. 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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? 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