Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 2: The Path of Understanding
Bhagavad Gita 2.35
भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः ।
येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम् ॥
bhayādraṇāduparataṃ maṃsyante tvāṃ mahārathāḥ | yeṣāṃ ca tvaṃ bahumato bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam ||
The great chariot-warriors will think you withdrew from battle out of fear, and you will fall low in the eyes of those who held you in high esteem.
Modern context
Arjuna thinks he would be withdrawing out of compassion. Krishna points out that no one else will read it that way; they will see fear. Our motives are invisible to others, who judge by what we do. If an action is certain to be misunderstood, that is at least a reason to examine our motive once more.