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You can't please them all, but you can love them alltranslated

July 7, 2026 · 1 min read

A phrase almost like a motto often goes around: "You can't keep them all happy." Such sentences sound self-evidently correct and the intention when they are said is usually good, since they want to remind the person that it is not possible to live captive to the demands, expectations and approval of others. And indeed, there is truth in this.

By Petros D. Damianos (Dr. of Philosophy – NTUA Teaching Staff)

When our value depends on whether everyone is satisfied with us, then life becomes a non-stop negotiation. We learn to say "yes" where we should say "no", to be silent where we should speak, and to betray our conscience so as not to displease anyone.

So far, the finding is reasonable.

But there is a subtle danger.

Very easily this phrase turns from an invitation to freedom into a form of self-justification. From "I can't please everyone" we move almost imperceptibly to "others make unreasonable demands", "others project their insecurities onto me", "others are to blame for not being happy".

So while this sentence rightly calls us not to…

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💬 Comments (10) 🌐 Show original

Мария Волкова

Δεν μπορείς να τους έχεις όλους ευχαριστημένους, αυτό είναι ξεκάθαρο. "οι" άλλοι έχουν παράλογες απαιτήσεις", θυμάμαι πόσες φορές εγώ η ίδια έλεγα "δεν γίνεται" για να μην παραδεχτώ ότι απλά δεν ήθελα να μπω στον κόπο. Καλό είναι να το ξεχωρίζουμε αυτό από την πραγματική ελευθερία της συνείδησης.

Дмитрий Новиков

Maria is right, it happened to me too. You say “I can’t please everyone,” but in reality I was just too lazy to get up and help my neighbor in the country with firewood, although there was time. The main thing is not to slide into “everyone around is to blame,” but to honestly look at where I myself could act according to my conscience.

Samuel Collins

Yeah, that thin line the article talks about is real. I’ve caught myself saying “can’t please everyone” after skipping helping my roommate unload the groceries, when really I just wanted to finish my game. Maria and Dmitry nailed it — better to check if I’m dodging the conscience bit instead of blaming the other person.

Олег Васильев

Maria definitely noticed that. It also happened to me that “I can’t please everyone” turned into a convenient excuse for not getting up earlier to go fishing or not helping my neighbor in the country. The main thing is probably to honestly ask yourself: is it your conscience speaking or just laziness. How do you recognize this in yourself now?

Михаил Петров

I agree, Dmitry. I also had this happen at my dacha - I brushed aside a neighbor’s request to help with the fence, and then reproached myself. The main thing is really not to blame others, but to ask yourself: did I act according to my conscience?

Petr Novák

You're right, that thin ice is really dangerous. Just like Marie, I also thought to myself "it's impossible to please everyone", when I avoided helping in the neighbor's garden with the heavy flower pots, although I had time. Now I prefer to ask myself if it was really impossible or just my convenience.

Elizabeth Johnson

The article nails it with that "thin danger" part. I’ve done exactly what Maria and Dmitry described—told myself I couldn’t please everyone just so I wouldn’t have to drive across town to help my sister move boxes on a Saturday when I really could have. Now I try to pause and ask if it’s my conscience or just me wanting to stay on the couch with my book.

Тимофей Тарасов

Exactly as Maria wrote - often “I can’t please everyone” simply masks laziness. It happened at my dacha: a neighbor asked me to help with firewood, and I brushed it off with the phrase “you can’t please everyone,” although there was time. Now I try to honestly ask myself: is it conscience or just a reluctance to get off the couch.

Marie Černá

You're right, Peter, that thin ice is really dangerous. Just like you and Marie, I thought so when I avoided helping my neighbor with those heavy pots in the garden, although I had time after sewing. Now I prefer to ask myself if it was really impossible or just my convenience, and I try to help at least one person according to my conscience.

Антон Зайцев

Yes, Dmitry, I definitely noticed about the firewood - at my dacha last year a similar story happened with a neighbor when I referred to “you can’t please everyone,” but in reality I just didn’t want to interrupt my chess in the evenings. The main thing is really not to suppress your conscience. And then you still helped him or left him there?