Don't worry about what the people say; be yourself, say what you

Hear the words of Mariano Rivera, the humble giant of the pitcher’s mound, who said: “Don’t worry about what the people say; be yourself, say what you want to say with respect.” These words, though born from the world of sport, rise above the stadium and echo through the chambers of human experience. They are a reminder that the voices of others—whether filled with praise or condemnation—must not rule our hearts. Instead, the true calling of life is to live with integrity, to speak truth, but to cloak that truth in respect.

The ancients too carried this wisdom. Socrates, who walked the streets of Athens, was mocked and even condemned to death because he dared to be himself and to question the false wisdom of the crowd. Yet he did not rail with bitterness; he spoke calmly, with dignity, even as the hemlock was given to him. His life shows us what Rivera proclaims: do not fear what the people say, for their judgment is fleeting. Speak your truth, but do so with respect, and even in death your voice will outlive your critics.

Rivera himself embodied this wisdom on the field. As one of the greatest closers in baseball history, he often faced not only batters but jeers, criticism, and the pressure of impossible expectation. Yet he remained serene, never boastful, never cruel. He was himself—a man of quiet strength and deep faith—and because of that, his words and deeds carried weight. He did not let the noise of the crowd dictate his spirit, and so his legacy stands not only in records but in the respect he earned from friend and rival alike.

History offers another shining example in Abraham Lincoln. During the darkest days of the Civil War, he was attacked from every side—called weak by some, tyrant by others. Yet he did not yield to the storms of public opinion. He spoke the truth as he saw it, with humility and respect even toward his enemies. His Gettysburg Address, brief and measured, continues to resound through the ages. In him we see the eternal power of Rivera’s teaching: the world may rage, but the one who stands in respectful truth will be remembered long after the noise has faded.

The meaning of Rivera’s words is both personal and universal. To be yourself is to honor the unique light placed within you, rather than bury it beneath the shadows of fear or conformity. To speak what you believe is to walk in courage, yet to temper it with respect is to walk in wisdom. For honesty without respect becomes cruelty, and respect without honesty becomes weakness. The union of both gives birth to greatness.

The lesson for us is plain: silence the clamor of unworthy voices. Do not live as a puppet to opinion, nor let fear of criticism rob you of your voice. Instead, cultivate the courage to be yourself, to act with integrity, to speak with sincerity. But remember always to veil your strength in gentleness, so that your truth builds bridges instead of walls. In this way, you will command the only kind of respect that endures: the respect that arises not from fear, but from honor.

What then shall we do? Each day, examine your words before they leave your lips. Ask: do they come from truth? Do they bear respect? If so, speak boldly, without fear of the crowd. When others mock, remain steadfast; when others praise, remain humble. Anchor yourself not in the shifting winds of opinion but in the steady ground of integrity. In doing so, you will walk the path of Rivera, a path where dignity is never sacrificed to noise.

Therefore, O listener, remember this teaching: “Don’t worry about what the people say; be yourself, say what you want to say with respect.” Let it guard your heart when the crowd shouts against you, and let it guide your tongue when passion burns within you. For in being true to yourself, tempered by respect for others, you will win not only fleeting applause, but the eternal admiration that outlives the passing voices of the day.