Attention to health is life’s greatest hindrance.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
I envy paranoids; they actually feel people are paying attention to them.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
The relationship of the toastmaster to the speaker should be the same as that of the fan to the fan dancer. It should call attention to the subject without making any particular effort to cover it.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
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
Working in an office with an array of electronic devices is like trying to get something done at home with half a dozen small children around. The calls for attention are constant.
—Marilyn vos Savant (b.1946) American Columnist, Author, Lecturer, Playwright
Humor is richly rewarding to the person who employs it. It has some value in gaining and holding attention, but it has no persuasive value at all.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
A good advertisement is one which sells the product without drawing attention to itself.
—David Ogilvy (1911–99) British-American Advertising Executive
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
There isn’t any formula or method. You learn to love by loving – by paying attention and doing what one thereby discovers has to be done.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Satirist, Short Story Writer
Do not pay too much attention to the advice or suggestions of those around you.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought 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
As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Those who are unhappy have no need for anything in this world but people capable of giving them their attention.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
Thank you for leaving us alone but giving us enough attention to boost our egos.
—Mick Jagger (b.1943) English Rock Singer, Songwriter
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 Leader, Teacher, Peace Activist
No man is lonely while eating spaghetti; it requires so much attention.
—Christopher Morley (1890–1957) American Novelist, Essayist
It has always surprised me how little attention philosophers have paid to humor, since it is a more significant process of mind than reason. Reason can only sort out perceptions, but the humor process is involved in changing them.
—Edward de Bono (1933–2021) Maltese-British Psychologist, Writer
In every forest, on every farm, in every orchard on earth, it’s what’s under the ground that creates what’s above the ground. That’s why placing your attention on the fruits that you have already grown is futile. You cannot change the fruits that are already hanging on the tree. You can, however, change tomorrow’s fruits. But to do so, you will have to dig below the ground and strengthen the roots.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
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
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end, We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.
—Mary Oliver (1935–2019) American Poet
The power of applying attention, steady and undissipated, to a single object, is the sure mark of a superior genius.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
There is one thing we can do, and the happiest people are those who an do it to the limit of their ability. We can be completely present. We can be all here. We can… give all our attention to the opportunity before us.
—Mark Van Doren (1894–1972) American Poet, Writer, Critic
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 Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
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
Comedians are never really on vacation because you’re always at attention… that antenna is always out there.
—Bob Newhart (1929–2024) American Comedian, Actor
In the successful organization, no detail is too small to escape close attention.
—Lou Holtz (1893–1980) American Stage Performer
The highest ecstasy is the attention at its fullest.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
In the intellectual order, the virtue of humility is nothing more nor less than the power of attention.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.
—Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) Austrian Composer
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