The problem with taking offense is that it's really hard to figure out what to do with it after you're done using it. Better to just leave it on the table and walk away. Umbrage untaken quietly disappears.
Seth GodinRead
If you take action, you will be judged. There's no way around it. The alternative, of course, is much safer. To be ignored. Up to you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Taking action invites judgment while inaction guarantees obscurity.
In this quote, Seth Godin emphasizes the inevitability of judgment that comes with taking action. While choosing to act may subject one to criticism or evaluation, remaining passive leads to being overlooked entirely, highlighting the importance of making choices and embracing the potential risks of visibility over the safety of anonymity.
Themes
ActionJudgedIgnoredRisksChoices
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about entrepreneurship, this quote could inspire individuals to take risks.
More from Seth Godin
All quotes →Not adding value is the same as taking it away.
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Excellence isn’t about meeting the spec, it’s about setting the spec. It defines what the consumer sees as quality right this minute, and tomorrow, if you’re good, you’ll reset that expectation again
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Living with doubt ... is almost always more profitable than living with certainty. _x000D_ People don't like doubt, so they pay money and give up opportunities to avoid it. _x000D_ Entrepreneurshi p is largely about living with doubt. If you need reassurance, you're giving up quite a bit to get it. On the other hand, if you can get in the habit of seeking out uncertainty, you'll have developed a great instinct.
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The danger of the Web is that you can go from idea to public announcement in under ten minutes.
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Art isn't only a painting. Art is anything that is creative, passionate and personal. Art is the unique work of a human being created to touch another. Art is created to have an impact, to change someone else.
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