It means that sticks and stones will break my bones, but names never can. Or to have a thick skin.

If that’s what he meant then he did a very poor job getting that across. Having a thick skin doesn’t mean that you blindly ignore criticism.

I think it means, always be aware of other people’s opinions (and I’d hope consider the merit of any information, ideas and facts they may present), but don’t get hung up on whether people agree or disagree with your opinions.

It implies having confidence in one’s own opinion, despite what others may say about it. And also to not let the praise of the hoi polloi go to your head.

Other people’s opinions matter because the person giving said opinion could very well be telling the truth. But when they criticize you, they’ll put you down, more than likely, because those people don’t want you to be better, or think you’re better than they are, so what they think of your opinion might very well be heavily biased against you.

Instead of “never pay attention” it would make more sense to say “never take too seriously”. That would be more savvy/

I get what he means now, he worded it very strangely, he’s done that countless of times with other quotes

I don’t care for his opinion on opinions.

If I paid very much attention to what many people thought about me here, I’d have left long ago. And in the meantime I’ve made some good friends. Haters gotta hate, ya know?

“Thought about me here.”

That’s not the issue, it’s what people think about your opinions, not you personally.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;

I concur that his wording is poor but I believe his intended message is to not let criticizers make you feel like their approval is necessary. Don’t be swayed or shut down.
Stand by your beliefs or rethink them based on new knowledge or experiences, not judgment.

Instead of “never pay attention to what others think of yours” he should have phrased it “Always be aware of other people’s opinions but don’t be too concerned with what they think of yours.”

It seems contradictory.

Why would I care about your opinion, if I don’t expect you to do the same?

people judge you on your opinions. The critic is saying that you should not live a life currying the favor of others. Randy Newman has a wonderful little tune “I want everyone to like me”. Google it on you tube.

Not caring what others think of you or your opinion robs them of power.

@rockfan yep. Many of my opinions here are not at all popular! LOL Some have attacked me for who I am; others attack me for what I believe. And still others attack me for my opinions. It often amounts to the same thing. Who cares?

@rockfan We would never worry about what others think of us IF we knew how seldom they did.
And, what others think of me is none of my business.