Care to know

I've been often told that I should care less what people think of me.
And for the most part, I agree.

Recently though, I'm getting to realize that this attitude could be just as dangerous as falling slave to other people's expectations.
After all, what people think of me half-governs our interaction. Knowing it gives me the edge, ignoring it places me in peril.

So I shouldn't care what people think of me, but I should care to know.

The difference is subtle and vital.