“You can’t please everyone” is the proverb that frees us from the impossible task of satisfying all. Here is what it means, where it comes from, how to use it, and a few sayings that share its wisdom.
What Does “You Can’t Please Everyone” Mean?
The proverb means that it is impossible to make everybody happy at the same time — no matter what you do, someone will always disapprove or be dissatisfied. People want different and often contradictory things, so trying to satisfy them all is hopeless. It is usually offered as comfort and good advice: stop wearing yourself out chasing universal approval, do what you believe is right, and accept that some people will be displeased whatever you choose.
Origin of the Proverb
The lesson is beautifully illustrated in one of Aesop’s fables, “The Miller, His Son, and the Donkey.” As a man and his son travel with their donkey, passers-by criticise them at every turn — first for not riding it, then for one riding while the other walks, then for both riding and overloading the poor beast. Trying to please everyone, they end up changing their behaviour again and again, are mocked by all, and finally lose the donkey altogether. The moral is plain: please all, and you please none.
Examples in a Sentence
- “Some reviewers loved the film and some hated it — you can’t please everyone.”
- “Make the decision you believe in; you can’t please everyone.”
- “Whatever menu we choose, someone will grumble. You can’t please everyone.”
Similar Proverbs
- He who tries to please all pleases none — the fuller form of the same lesson.
- A friend to all is a friend to none — spreading yourself across everyone helps no one.
- Different strokes for different folks — people want different things.
- You can’t please God and the devil at the same time — some demands are contradictory.
For more sayings about good sense and human nature, see our smart thoughts and the full library of proverbs and their meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “you can’t please everyone” mean?
It means it is impossible to make everybody happy — whatever you do, someone will always be dissatisfied, so it is futile to chase universal approval.
Where does the proverb come from?
It is the moral of Aesop’s fable “The Miller, His Son, and the Donkey,” in which trying to please every passer-by costs the man his donkey.
What is a similar proverb?
“He who tries to please all pleases none” and “a friend to all is a friend to none” share the same lesson.