When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.
—George Washington Carver (1864–1943) American Scientist, Botanist, Educator, Inventor
Throughout my career, if I have done anything, I have paid attention to every note and every word I sing – if I respect the song. If I cannot project this to a listener, I fail.
—Frank Sinatra (1915–1998) American Singer
Choice of attention – to pay attention to this and ignore that – is to the inner life what choice of action is to the outer. In both cases, a man is responsible for his choice and must accept the consequences, whatever they may be.
—W. H. Auden (1907–73) British-born American Poet, Dramatist
An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgements simpler through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore.
—Edward de Bono (1933–2021) Maltese-British Psychologist, Writer
No man is lonely while eating spaghetti; it requires so much attention.
—Christopher Morley (1890–1957) American Novelist, Essayist
To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.
—Stephen Hawking (1942–2018) English Theoretical Physicist, Cosmologist, Academic
I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.
—Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) Austrian Composer
Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands.
Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.
—Abigail Adams (1744–1818) American First Lady
If I have made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention than to any other talent.
—Isaac Newton (1643–1727) English Physicist, Mathematician, Astronomer, Theologian
Equality is the public recognition, effectively expressed in institutions and manners, of the principle that an equal degree of attention is due to the needs of all human beings.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
Don’t pay any attention to what they write about you. Just measure it in inches.
—Andy Warhol (1928–87) American Painter, Printmaker, Film Personality
Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail of success.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
In the successful organization, no detail is too small to escape close attention.
—Lou Holtz (1893–1980) American Stage Performer
Do not pay too much attention to the advice or suggestions of those around you.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail.
—Chuck Swindoll (b.1934) American Evangelical Christian Pastor, Author
The ego is nothing other than the focus of conscious attention.
—Alan Watts (1915–73) British-American Philosopher, Author
Success in life is founded upon attention to the small things rather than to the large things; to the everyday things nearest to us rather than to the things that are remote and uncommon.
—Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) African-American Educationist
You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of its own. It’s just a matter of paying attention to this miracle.
—Paulo Coelho (b.1947) Brazilian Songwriter, Novelist
To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.
—Mary Oliver (1935–2019) American Poet
Whatever we put our attention on will grow stronger in our life.
—Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1914–2008) Indian Hindu Religious Leader
The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.
—Frank Hall Crane (1873–1948) American Stage and Film Actor, Director
There are few things more dreadful than dealing with a man who knows he is going under, in his own eyes, and in the eyes of others. Nothing can help that man. What is left of that man flees from what is left of human attention.
—James Baldwin (1924–87) American Novelist, Social Critic
Pay no attention to what the critics say. A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic.
—Jean Sibelius (1865–1957) Finnish Composer
I was made a revolutionary in spite of myself… [A]ll creation presupposes as its origin a sort of appetite that is brought on by the foretaste of discovery. This foretaste of the creative art accompanies the intuitive grasp of an unknown entity that will not take definite shape except by the action of a constantly vigilant technique. This appetite that is aroused in me at the mere thought of putting in order musical elements that have attracted my attention is not at all a fortuitous thing like inspiration, but as habitual and periodic, if not constant, as a natural need… The very act of putting my work on paper, of, as we say, kneading the dough, is for me inseperable from the pleasure of creation. So far as I am concerned, I cannot seperate the spiritual effort from the psychological and physical effort; they confront me on the same level and do not present a hierarchy…What concerns us here is not imagination itself, but rather creative imagination: the facultyy that helps us to pass from the level of conception to the level of realization. In the course of my labors I suddenly stumble upon something unexpected. this unexpected element strikes me. I make note of it. At the proper time I put it to profitable use… The faculty of creating is never given to us all by itself. It always goes hand in hand with the gift of observation. And the true creator may be recognized by his ability always to find about him, in the commonest and humblest thing, items worthy of note… The least accident holds his interest and guides his operations. If his finger slips, he will notice it; on occasion, he may draw profit from something unforeseen that a momentary lapse reveals to him. One does not contrive an accident: one observes it to draw inspiration therefrom.
—Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) Russian-born American Composer, Musician
Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
When things haven’t gone well for you, call in a secretary or a staff man and chew him out. You will sleep better and they will appreciate the attention.
—Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–73) American Head of State, Political leader
The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.
—Thich Nhat Hanh (1926–2022) Vietnamese Buddhist Religious Leader, Teacher, Author, Peace Activist
It takes a big idea to attract the attention of consumers and get them to buy your product. Unless your advertising contains a big idea, it will pass like a ship in the night. I doubt if more than one campaign in a hundred contains a big idea.
—David Ogilvy (1911–99) British-American Advertising Executive
Never pay the slightest attention to what a company president ever says about his stock.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant