A truly strong person does not need the approval of others any

Vernon Howard once declared: “A truly strong person does not need the approval of others any more than a lion needs the approval of sheep.” These words strike with the force of thunder, for they reveal the essence of true power. Many live their days as prisoners of opinion, enslaved by the gaze of others, yearning for validation. But Howard reminds us that genuine strength is found not in the applause of the crowd, but in the unshakable certainty of one’s own spirit. Just as the lion roams free, needing no praise from the flock, so too must the soul that seeks greatness walk its path without begging permission.

The ancients knew this truth well. The Stoics of old taught that the opinions of men are fleeting shadows, tossed by the winds of circumstance. To build one’s life upon them is to construct a temple upon sand. The truly strong must root themselves in inner conviction, in the eternal voice within, rather than in the shifting murmurs of the many. The sheep bleat their judgments, but their cries do not touch the majesty of the lion.

Consider the life of Galileo Galilei. In his day, the world demanded obedience to old beliefs, declaring the earth the center of the cosmos. To challenge this was to invite ridicule, condemnation, even danger. Yet Galileo, guided by the flame of truth, declared what his telescope revealed—that the earth was not the center, but a planet among many. The approval of his age turned against him, and he was silenced by force. Yet history vindicated him, for his strength lay not in pleasing the flock, but in listening to the eternal order of the stars. Like the lion, he walked alone, yet his roar echoes through the centuries.

So it is with all who dare to rise above. The lion is not arrogant; it is simply itself. It does not ask, “Do you approve of my hunt? Do you accept my roar?” It lives according to its nature, and in that lies its majesty. The sheep, bound by fear and conformity, cannot comprehend such independence. Likewise, the strong man or woman walks in truth even when misunderstood, mocked, or rejected, for they know that the crowd’s approval is a poor substitute for inner integrity.

The lesson is this: if you would be truly strong, you must cast aside the chains of constant validation. Praise will tempt you, and criticism will wound you, but neither must dictate your path. Instead, listen to the deeper call within your soul, for that is where destiny speaks. Strength is not found in bending to every voice, but in walking steadfast when all voices oppose you.

Therefore, let each soul practice independence of spirit. Begin by questioning: “Do I act from conviction, or from fear of disapproval?” Speak truth even when unpopular. Choose integrity over applause, principle over popularity. In small acts of courage, the habit of inner strength is forged, until at last you too may walk like the lion, unbound and untamed.

In practice, turn not your gaze constantly toward others for validation. Seek wisdom, yes; listen to counsel, yes; but do not surrender the throne of your soul to the fleeting judgments of the crowd. Instead, stand tall in the truth you have tested, and move forward as one who carries within themselves a light no shadow can extinguish.

Thus Vernon Howard’s words shine as a torch for all generations: the sheep may chatter, the crowds may scorn or praise, but the lion does not live by their measure. Be as the lion—walk your path with courage, secure in your truth, and you will know a strength that no approval, and no rejection, can ever touch.