Respect vs Approval

There is a difference between having someone's respect and having someone's approval. You can even respect someone without approving them; I respect the skills of many immoral people without approving their application (the Moriarties of the world).. I like respect and I like it better when it's mutual.

Approval? I'm not sure I really worry about approval anymore. I think that having approval was more important to me when I was young(er).

It's an interesting progression. I suspect it's linked to if you have enough life experiences that require you to examine your motivations and values, challenge your self-esteem and prompt you to question the validity of the people who you admire.

I'm curious to what others think. Was there a time when approval was more important? Why did it change?
Or, if approval is still plays a role in your life, how does it enrich you? What do you learn about yourself through the approval of others?

How about respect? Same questions.