---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What nobody understood then is this: The…"
description: "\"What nobody understood then is this: The only way that you achieve what you want and fulfill your dreams and become great is by demanding that sort of ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/augusten-burroughs-603_achieve_what-nobody-understood-then-is-this-the_2341234.png"
---

#  What nobody understood then is this: The only way that you…

![“What nobody understood then is this: The only way that you achieve what you want and fulfill your dreams and become great is by demanding that sort of attention. You have to make it happen.” quote by Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/augusten-burroughs-603_achieve_what-nobody-understood-then-is-this-the_2341234.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/augusten-burroughs-603_achieve_what-nobody-understood-then-is-this-the_2341234.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/augusten-burroughs-603_achieve_what-nobody-understood-then-is-this-the_2341234.png)

> “What nobody understood then is this: The only way that you achieve what you want and fulfill your dreams and become great is by demanding that sort of attention. You have to make it happen.”

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Achieving dreams requires demanding attention and proactive effort, not passive waiting.

**In simple terms:** Make attention happen to fulfill dreams.

Key Takeaway

Actively seek visibility for your goals.

Themes

ambition attention self-determination

Mood

determined motivated

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- creative projects
- public speaking

Key Concepts

goal setting self-advocacy motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance attention with competence?
- What steps ensure your efforts translate to results?

A Different Perspective

Attention alone isn’t enough without skill.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/)

## Related quotes

> [“i'm hardworking not because i want to fulfill any dreams, but because i want to have one”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-petra/i-m-hardworking-not-because-i-want-to-fulfill-any-dreams-but-because/)

Veronica Petra

> [I want to be solution of Your every Problem,I want to be the one who fulfill all Your dreams and I want just to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-to-be-solution-of-your-every-problem-i-want-to-be-the-one-who/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think that nothing is impossible when you want to fulfill a dream. A lot of people will tell you that you can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia/i-think-that-nothing-is-impossible-when-you-want-to-fulfill-a-dream-a/)

[Thalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia/)

> [Sometimes people aren't going to like you or want to be near you but don't try to get their attention or make them like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-henry/sometimes-people-aren-t-going-to-like-you-or-want-to-be-near-you-but/)

Ty Henry

> [A woman can be seeking attention and also make a statement.They don't need to be mutually exclusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-ratajkowski/a-woman-can-be-seeking-attention-and-also-make-a-statement-they-don-t/)

[Emily Ratajkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-ratajkowski/)

> [“Why does it take a man's attention to make me see anything good about myself?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-abel/why-does-it-take-a-man-s-attention-to-make-me-see-anything-good-about/)

[E.M. Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-abel/)

> [I hate when people draw attention to make themselves look better. God says that the humble will receive a special reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-when-people-draw-attention-to-make-themselves-look-better-god/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There is no authentic goal you can set for yourself that can't be reached, no dream that can't be realized. It's just a matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-michaels/there-is-no-authentic-goal-you-can-set-for-yourself-that-can-t-be/)

[Jillian Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-michaels/)

> [“But as for you, fear nothing; I am always with you. And know this, too, My daughter: all creatures, whether they know it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-faustina-kowalska/but-as-for-you-fear-nothing-i-am-always-with-you-and-know-this-too-my/)

[Maria Faustina Kowalska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-faustina-kowalska/)

> [I always want to fulfill genre expectations and think that should be the bedrock of any film - then you can layer in thematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-always-want-to-fulfill-genre-expectations-and-think-that-should-be/)

[Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/)

> [I want us all to fulfill our greatest potential. To find our calling, and summon the courage to live it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-want-us-all-to-fulfill-our-greatest-potential-to-find-our-calling/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [You have a certain number of dreams in your life you want to fulfill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/you-have-a-certain-number-of-dreams-in-your-life-you-want-to-fulfill/)

[Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/)

> [If you want to fulfill your desire. firstly you learns about hard working.than think about successfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/if-you-want-to-fulfill-your-desire-firstly-you-learns-about-hard/)

Mak\_786

> [I want people to know that you can achieve what you want to achieve, but you have to work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-evans/i-want-people-to-know-that-you-can-achieve-what-you-want-to-achieve/)

[Sara Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-evans/)

> [For me, it's important to instil in my children that they can do whatever they like, that no matter what their religion and colour,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadiya-hussain/for-me-it-s-important-to-instil-in-my-children-that-they-can-do/)

[Nadiya Hussain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadiya-hussain/)

## More by Augusten Burroughs

> [There is nothing about myself that I wouldn't reveal or write about. I don't care how horrendous or ridiculous I may appear in person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/there-is-nothing-about-myself-that-i-wouldn-t-reveal-or-write-about-i/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [“We were alone together, we were an us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/we-were-alone-together-we-were-an-us/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [Like every child, I adored her. Until I formed a brain and got to know her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/like-every-child-i-adored-her-until-i-formed-a-brain-and-got-to-know/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [“You must hang onto the scraps of the bucking moment as if your sanity and life depended on it - because actually they do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/you-must-hang-onto-the-scraps-of-the-bucking-moment-as-if-your-sanity/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [Real optimism is not the pep talk you give yourself. It is earned through the labor involved in emotional housekeeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/real-optimism-is-not-the-pep-talk-you-give-yourself-it-is-earned/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [If you hate your life, you haven't' seen enough of it. If you hate your life, it's because your life is too small and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/if-you-hate-your-life-you-haven-t-seen-enough-of-it-if-you-hate-your/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [I think writers tend to be experience junkies, and I think they also tend to want to be on the outside looking in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/i-think-writers-tend-to-be-experience-junkies-and-i-think-they-also/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [I think part of the reason I'm attracted to Foster is because he's such a mess. I mean, the people I have loved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/i-think-part-of-the-reason-i-m-attracted-to-foster-is-because-he-s/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [“On typical days, (dust) is simply irritating. On Roid Rage days, it made me want to stomp down to the highway, pull drivers out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/on-typical-days-dust-is-simply-irritating-on-roid-rage-days-it-made/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [I'm like the guy who prepares your taxes or a dentist. I'm very conservative and boring in a lot of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/i-m-like-the-guy-who-prepares-your-taxes-or-a-dentist-i-m-very/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [“Nothing surprises me now," I tell him. I am stoic. I am Joan of Arc, with liver damage and an unused penis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/nothing-surprises-me-now-i-tell-him-i-am-stoic-i-am-joan-of-arc-with/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [“It's not that I was an outright nitwit of a child.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/it-s-not-that-i-was-an-outright-nitwit-of-a-child/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [What I really want is to sit next to someone under an L.L. bean blanket on the beach in the fall and drink coffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/what-i-really-want-is-to-sit-next-to-someone-under-an-l-l-bean/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [“My worth depended on where exactly the decimal was placed among the zeroes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/my-worth-depended-on-where-exactly-the-decimal-was-placed-among-the/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [“Bookman isn't a stable man. He has a lot of problems that run very, very deep." But he was really good at giving head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/bookman-isn-t-a-stable-man-he-has-a-lot-of-problems-that-run-very/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

[Explore all 448 Augusten Burroughs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

## More Achieve quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/)

[Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/)

> [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/)

[Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/)

> [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/)

[Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/)

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/)

Deon Taylor

> [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/)

Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera

> [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/)

[Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/)

> [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/)

[Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/)

> [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power &amp; movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/)

[John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/)

> [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/)

[Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/)

> [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/)

[Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/)

Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What nobody understood then is this: The only way that you achieve what you want and fulfill your dreams and become great is by demanding that sort of attention. You have to make it happen.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Augusten Burroughs"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/what-nobody-understood-then-is-this-the-only-way-that-you-achieve/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Achieve"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/what-nobody-understood-then-is-this-the-only-way-that-you-achieve/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/augusten-burroughs-603_achieve_what-nobody-understood-then-is-this-the_2341234.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/augusten-burroughs-603_achieve_what-nobody-understood-then-is-this-the_2341234.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/augusten-burroughs-603_achieve_what-nobody-understood-then-is-this-the_2341234.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What nobody understood then is this: The only way that you achieve what you want and fulfill your dreams and…” — Augusten Burroughs",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Augusten Burroughs",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What nobody understood then is this:...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/what-nobody-understood-then-is-this-the-only-way-that-you-achieve/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/what-nobody-understood-then-is-this-the-only-way-that-you-achieve/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
