But I found that disappointing people is a good thing, because disapproval is freedom.

The line frames “disappointing people” not as a moral failure but as a necessary step toward autonomy. Martin’s paradox—treating disapproval as “freedom”—suggests that seeking universal approval can become a form of self-censorship, where choices are made to manage others’ expectations rather than to express one’s own values. By tolerating (or even embracing) others’ disappointment, a person loosens the social pressure to perform, conform, or please, and gains room to act honestly. The humor lies in reversing the usual emotional logic: what feels like rejection becomes evidence that you are no longer governed by the need to be liked.