--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fame is simply an imbalance between…" description: "\"Fame is simply an imbalance between inbound and outbound attention.\" — Clay Shirky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/clay-shirky-3364_attention_fame-is-simply-an-imbalance-between-inbo_2091198.png" --- # Fame is simply an imbalance between inbound and outbound… ![“Fame is simply an imbalance between inbound and outbound attention.” quote by Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/clay-shirky-3364_attention_fame-is-simply-an-imbalance-between-inbo_2091198.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/clay-shirky-3364_attention_fame-is-simply-an-imbalance-between-inbo_2091198.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/clay-shirky-3364_attention_fame-is-simply-an-imbalance-between-inbo_2091198.png) > “Fame is simply an imbalance between inbound and outbound attention.” [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fame results from having more attention coming in than going out, creating an imbalance. **In simple terms:** Fame is an attention imbalance. Key Takeaway Manage both inbound and outbound attention. Themes media attention economy celebrity Mood analytical critical Type observational theoretical When to use this quote - social media strategy - public relations - personal branding Key Concepts social capital information flow Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure inbound vs outbound attention? - What strategies balance attention flow? A Different Perspective Attention can be fleeting and manipulative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Fame Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame-simply-4133903/) [Imbalance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imbalance/) [Outbound Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outbound-attention-4133902/) [Simply Imbalance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simply-imbalance-4133904/) ## Related quotes > [It was sad, the imbalance of it all. Why do kids assume so much from one parent and hold the other to a lower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/it-was-sad-the-imbalance-of-it-all-why-do-kids-assume-so-much-from/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“anyone who smiled all the time clearly suffered from a mental imbalance”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-l-jensen/anyone-who-smiled-all-the-time-clearly-suffered-from-a-mental/) [Danielle L. Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-l-jensen/) > [“the primary purpose of sermon introductions is to produce imbalance for the sake of engagement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-l-lowry/the-primary-purpose-of-sermon-introductions-is-to-produce-imbalance/) [Eugene L. Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-l-lowry/) > [In order to address world economic imbalances, countries around the world should make joint efforts to adjust their economic structure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-jintao/in-order-to-address-world-economic-imbalances-countries-around-the/) [Hu Jintao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-jintao/) > [Too often, attention is diverted from the needs of populations, insufficient emphasis is placed on work in the fields, and the goods of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/too-often-attention-is-diverted-from-the-needs-of-populations/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [To be ordinary is the greatest virtue - because when you are just ordinary, nothing to claim, of this world or that, the ego…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/to-be-ordinary-is-the-greatest-virtue-because-when-you-are-just/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I loved her more than she loved me, that was the problem. 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Depression may not even be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/depression-is-not-caused-by-a-chemical-imbalance-in-the-brain-and-it/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [We want to create, never mind the leaders or the bishops or chief rabbis or imams, or Popes. We want to create a grassroots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/we-want-to-create-never-mind-the-leaders-or-the-bishops-or-chief/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Feeling bad is caused by an imbalance. Don't lash out at the world. It makes you more unstable. 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More media always means more arguing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/the-more-ideas-there-are-in-circulation-the-more-ideas-there-are-for/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) [Explore all 132 Clay Shirky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. 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They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fame is simply an imbalance between inbound and outbound attention.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clay Shirky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/fame-is-simply-an-imbalance-between-inbound-and-outbound-attention/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/fame-is-simply-an-imbalance-between-inbound-and-outbound-attention/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/clay-shirky-3364_attention_fame-is-simply-an-imbalance-between-inbo_2091198.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/clay-shirky-3364_attention_fame-is-simply-an-imbalance-between-inbo_2091198.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/clay-shirky-3364_attention_fame-is-simply-an-imbalance-between-inbo_2091198.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fame is simply an imbalance between inbound and outbound attention.” — Clay Shirky", "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": "Clay Shirky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fame is simply an imbalance between...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/fame-is-simply-an-imbalance-between-inbound-and-outbound-attention/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/fame-is-simply-an-imbalance-between-inbound-and-outbound-attention/#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 } } ] } ```