--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes you can't help but pay…" description: "\"Sometimes you can't help but pay attention to what is written about you. You are trying not to because it's generally not constructive, it can be very ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/daniel-radcliffe-919_angry_sometimes-you-can-t-help-but-pay-attenti_1092468.jpg" --- # Sometimes you can't help but pay attention to what is… ![“Sometimes you can't help but pay attention to what is written about you. You are trying not to because it's generally not constructive, it can be very funny, in which case it's fine to pay attention to it if you're going to laugh about it. But if it's going to get you angry then it's a pretty…” quote by Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/daniel-radcliffe-919_angry_sometimes-you-can-t-help-but-pay-attenti_1092468.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/daniel-radcliffe-919_angry_sometimes-you-can-t-help-but-pay-attenti_1092468.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/daniel-radcliffe-919_angry_sometimes-you-can-t-help-but-pay-attenti_1092468.jpg) > “Sometimes you can't help but pay attention to what is written about you. You are trying not to because it's generally not constructive, it can be very funny, in which case it's fine to pay attention to it if you're going to laugh about it. But if it's going to get you angry then it's a pretty pointless waste of energy, so I try and be selective about what I take an interest in about myself.” [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Selective attention to criticism prevents wasted emotional energy and maintains focus. **In simple terms:** Ignore harmful criticism; focus on self. Key Takeaway Choose constructive feedback. Themes self‑esteem media criticism Mood thoughtful calm Type self‑help psychological When to use this quote - social media - public interviews - personal growth - mental health Key Concepts selectivity emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What criticism helped you improve? - How do you differentiate noise from insight? A Different Perspective Some feedback can be valuable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) ## Related quotes > [I've never paid much attention to those who have written me off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/i-ve-never-paid-much-attention-to-those-who-have-written-me-off/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [ Ben Carson also denounced \[Donald\] Trump's ban all Muslims proposal saying we do not and would not advocate being selective on one's religion. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/ben-carson-also-denounced-donald-trump-s-ban-all-muslims-proposal/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I think everyone does selective reading. Everybody has a filter, and that is real easy for critics to see things from their perspectives, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/i-think-everyone-does-selective-reading-everybody-has-a-filter-and/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I am consciously selective of the work that I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mithila-palkar/i-am-consciously-selective-of-the-work-that-i-do/) [Mithila Palkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mithila-palkar/) > [“She had that quality, selective blindness, when she just didn’t look straight at things she didn’t want to see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-carroll/she-had-that-quality-selective-blindness-when-she-just-didn-t-look/) Nora Carroll > [An autobiography is only 'a sort of life' - it may contain less errors of fact than a biography, but it is of necessity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/an-autobiography-is-only-a-sort-of-life-it-may-contain-less-errors-of/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [What masquerades as sex education is not education at all. It is selective propaganda which artificially encourages children to participate in adult sex, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-schlafly/what-masquerades-as-sex-education-is-not-education-at-all-it-is/) [Phyllis Schlafly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-schlafly/) > [It only takes twenty generations of selective breeding to create large differences or appearance and behavior in other mammals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/it-only-takes-twenty-generations-of-selective-breeding-to-create/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [“Isn't it strange how people are selective about the truth the want to see or hear?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/isn-t-it-strange-how-people-are-selective-about-the-truth-the-want-to/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [Christians in this country have found themselves under selective assault. God has, almost overnight, been removed from the educational, legal, and political institutions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lapin/christians-in-this-country-have-found-themselves-under-selective/) [Daniel Lapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lapin/) > [“I am, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to run around screwing the first thing that winks my way. I’m trying to be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-but-that-doesn-t-mean-i-m-going-to-run-around-screwing-the-first/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Economists actually disagree about whether there are significant economic returns from attending an elite college versus a less-selective one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-oster/economists-actually-disagree-about-whether-there-are-significant/) [Emily Oster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-oster/) > [The humanitarian argument is so selective I find it difficult to swallow. It's not even so much about the choice as to where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/the-humanitarian-argument-is-so-selective-i-find-it-difficult-to/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [For the past few years, I've been more selective than I have any right to be, but I think that's finally starting to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-caplan/for-the-past-few-years-i-ve-been-more-selective-than-i-have-any-right/) [Lizzy Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzy-caplan/) > [I can understand that memory must be selective, else it would choke on the glut of experience. What I cannot understand is why it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgilia-peterson/i-can-understand-that-memory-must-be-selective-else-it-would-choke-on/) [Virgilia Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgilia-peterson/) ## More by Daniel Radcliffe > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I’m an atheist, and a militant atheist when religion starts impacting on legislation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-m-an-atheist-and-a-militant-atheist-when-religion-starts-impacting/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [The one piece of advice I would give to any actor is, if you want to go out on the street without being recognised,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/the-one-piece-of-advice-i-would-give-to-any-actor-is-if-you-want-to/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I think any actor worth their salt wants to show as much versatility as they possibly can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-think-any-actor-worth-their-salt-wants-to-show-as-much-versatility/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I haven't always been thrilled with my work. But the fear of not proving the people wrong who think you can't emerge from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-haven-t-always-been-thrilled-with-my-work-but-the-fear-of-not/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I meet hundreds of people, and I'm not going to remember them. 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My dad became a literary agent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/my-mom-and-dad-were-actors-when-they-were-younger-and-had-a-horrible/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I wasn't the most popular kid in school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-wasn-t-the-most-popular-kid-in-school/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I was very sad to leave Harry Potter but equally there will be an element of excitement about the idea that a script might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-was-very-sad-to-leave-harry-potter-but-equally-there-will-be-an/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [A hero is also someone who, in their day to day interactions with the world, despite all the pain, uncertainty and doubt that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/a-hero-is-also-someone-who-in-their-day-to-day-interactions-with-the/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I love Steve Carell and Will Ferrell - they're my heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-love-steve-carell-and-will-ferrell-they-re-my-heroes/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I've learnt a lot about certain things but you also learn through your own experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-ve-learnt-a-lot-about-certain-things-but-you-also-learn-through/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) [Explore all 329 Daniel Radcliffe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) ## More Angry quotes > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [There's only so much for a man to take...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gilchrist/there-s-only-so-much-for-a-man-to-take/) Kirsten Gilchrist > [It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-is-afraid-of-an-informed-angry-public-demanding-the-constitutional/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [When you're frustrated with people, when they've made you angry, it just may be because you haven't given them enough time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-re-frustrated-with-people-when-they-ve-made-you-angry-it/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When I was writing 'Black Panther,' on one level, I was angry because DC would never let me write 'Batman,' so I was doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/when-i-was-writing-black-panther-on-one-level-i-was-angry-because-dc/) [Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [I'm an angry guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gandolfini/i-m-an-angry-guy/) [James Gandolfini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gandolfini/) > [Apparently, I'm the angriest man. I don't know. It's just an interpretation. If it was someone else, they might be called focused or competitive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alun-wyn-jones/apparently-i-m-the-angriest-man-i-don-t-know-it-s-just-an/) [Alun Wyn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alun-wyn-jones/) > [In the 1998 Oscars, I found myself in the bathroom in a stall, next to Tom Selleck. So I leaned over and I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/in-the-1998-oscars-i-found-myself-in-the-bathroom-in-a-stall-next-to/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [Of course I get angry, but I want to use my brain a little bit and not just smash things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/of-course-i-get-angry-but-i-want-to-use-my-brain-a-little-bit-and-not/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) [Browse all 3,857 Angry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes you can't help but pay attention to what is written about you. You are trying not to because it's generally not constructive, it can be very funny, in which case it's fine to pay attention to it if you're going to laugh about it. 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