Speakers who talk about what life has taught them never fail to keep the attention of their listeners.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
If there is anything that can be called genius, it consists chiefly in the ability to give that attention to a subject which keeps it steadily in the mind, till we have surveyed it accurately on all sides.
—Thomas Reid (1710–96) Scottish Philosopher, Clergyman
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
I didn’t really seek attention. I just wanted to play the game well and go home.
—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (b.1947) American Basketball Player, Author, Actor
Where attention goes, energy flows and results show.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
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
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
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
The moment one gives a close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world unto itself.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Whatever we put our attention on will grow stronger in our life.
—Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1914–2008) Indian Hindu Religious Leader
There have been times when I have deliberately tried to take my life… I think I must have been crying for some attention.
—Judy Garland (1922–69) American Actress, Singer
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
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
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
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
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
You can rest assured that if you devote your time and attention to the highest advantage of others, the Universe will support you, always and only in the nick of time.
—Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American Inventor, Philosopher
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 of the Late Romantic, Early Modern Periods
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
I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.
—Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) Austrian Composer
Attention is psychic energy, and like physical energy, unless we allocate some part of it to the task at hand, no work gets done.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1934–2021) Hungarian-American Psychologist
A good advertisement is one which sells the product without drawing attention to itself.
—David Ogilvy (1911–99) British-American Advertising Executive
The limitations of my endurance were expanded over and over. At times I felt that if I did not sit down I would collapse. Then something would happen to attract my attention…miraculously, the distraction always provided wings, carrying new strength, a second wind.
—Marlo Morgan (1937–98) American Novelist, Author
The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail.
—Chuck Swindoll (b.1934) American Evangelical Christian Pastor, Author
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
No man is lonely while eating spaghetti; it requires so much attention.
—Christopher Morley (1890–1957) American Novelist, Journalist, Poet, Essayist
Dealing with complexity is an inefficient and unnecessary waste of time, attention and mental energy. There is never any justification for things being complex when they could be simple.
—Edward de Bono (1933–2021) Maltese-British Psychologist, Writer
Us sing and dance, make faces and give flower bouquets, trying to be loved. You ever notice that trees do everything to git attention we do, except walk?
—Alice Walker (b.1944) American Novelist, 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
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