It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf.
–Walter Lippmann
And even if they are not deaf, if they don’t want to hear or refuse to listen, your efforts will be in vain. That is why it is called “ falling on deaf ears!”.
That is why I wind up “preaching to the choir,” so to speak. It feels good to be understood and know you are not alone. To me, what makes all this most unfortunate is that sometimes we will all pay the price because others won’t listen or heed warnings.
People understand and pick up on far more than they realize or let on. Pick your battles, but don't stop playing.
Bob Dylan didn't stop when everyone booed him. They understood eventually, even if still unconsciously and under a lot of shame.
There are two different types of people in the world, those who want to know, and those who want to believe. -Nietzsche
You can't wake people who are pretending to be asleep. -Navajo proverb
The role of the artist is exactly the same as the role of the lover. If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don’t see.” -James Baldwin
When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear. -Thomas Sowell