"They punish you for all your virtues. They forgive you entirely—your mistakes." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche from Thus Spoke Zarathustra

That's a powerful statement. It's echoed by the (frightening) truth of Schopenhauer: "There is no vice, of which a man can be guilty, no meanness, no shabbiness, no unkindness, which excited so much indignation among his contemporaries, friends and neighbors, as his success. This is the one unpardonable crime, which reason cannot defend, nor [can] humility mitigate."

What can I say here other than, "What those guys said!"?!? Nietzsche and Schopenhauer are obviously making bold statements. Look into them and see if you can find some truth. Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to snip at someone's faults than to admire their successes?

The fact is, we must become independent of the good or bad opinion of others if we have any chance of progressing very far on our path. It was Deepak Chopra who first introduced me to a mantra I have repeated (tens of?) thousands of times:

"I am totally independent of the good or bad opinion of others."

"I am totally independent of the good or bad opinion of others."

"I am totally independent of the good or bad opinion of others."

"I am totally independent of the good or bad opinion of others."

"I am totally independent of the good or bad opinion of others."

Let's steel ourselves from being dependent on the opinion of others.

And let's do what our souls command us to do and leave it at that!!! :)