--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most common user action on a Web site…" description: "\"The most common user action on a Web site is to flee.\" — Edward Tufte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/edward-tufte-10613_action_the-most-common-user-action-on-a-web-sit_1523150.jpg" --- # The most common user action on a Web site is to flee. ![“The most common user action on a Web site is to flee.” quote by Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/edward-tufte-10613_action_the-most-common-user-action-on-a-web-sit_1523150.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/edward-tufte-10613_action_the-most-common-user-action-on-a-web-sit_1523150.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/edward-tufte-10613_action_the-most-common-user-action-on-a-web-sit_1523150.jpg) > “The most common user action on a Web site is to flee.” [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Users tend to leave a site quickly if it fails to engage or meet needs **In simple terms:** People often exit websites fast when they’re not useful Key Takeaway Design for relevance and engagement to retain users Themes usability design engagement Mood critical inquisitive Type practical insightful When to use this quote - e‑commerce - news sites - educational portals - mobile apps Key Concepts human‑centered design information architecture user experience Questions to Reflect On - What makes you stay on a website? - How can you reduce bounce rates? A Different Perspective Complex interfaces can still cause users to stay if content is compelling ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) ## Related quotes > [Flee an enemy who knows your weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/flee-an-enemy-who-knows-your-weakness/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [For even bold natures flee, whenever they see Hades close to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/for-even-bold-natures-flee-whenever-they-see-hades-close-to-life/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [In the end, perhaps it will be the true romantics, not the nerds, who choose to flee from a world of impersonal, digitized relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/in-the-end-perhaps-it-will-be-the-true-romantics-not-the-nerds-who/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [“While we pursue happiness, we flee from contentment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/while-we-pursue-happiness-we-flee-from-contentment/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [For all of its uncertainty, we cannot flee the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/for-all-of-its-uncertainty-we-cannot-flee-the-future/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [And I have the others in me. Even when I’m far away from them, I am forced to live with them. Even when I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/and-i-have-the-others-in-me-even-when-i-m-far-away-from-them-i-am/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [If you desire the path of sincerity, develop a love for obscurity. Flee from the clatter and clinks of fame. Be like the roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-desire-the-path-of-sincerity-develop-a-love-for-obscurity-flee/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I once sent a dozen of my friends a telegram saying 'flee at once - all is discovered.' They all left town immediately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-once-sent-a-dozen-of-my-friends-a-telegram-saying-flee-at-once-all/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [When he pretends to flee, do not pursue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/when-he-pretends-to-flee-do-not-pursue/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Out of the hills of Habersham, Down the valleys of Hall, I hurry amain to reach the plain; Run the rapid and leap the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lanier/out-of-the-hills-of-habersham-down-the-valleys-of-hall-i-hurry-amain/) [Sidney Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lanier/) > [“Running’ is driven by panic. ‘Destination’ is driven by thought. And while it’s terribly painful to admit, incessantly pretending that I do the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/running-is-driven-by-panic-destination-is-driven-by-thought-and-while/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [We must do something about the cross, and there’s only one of two things we can do- flee it or die upon it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/we-must-do-something-about-the-cross-and-there-s-only-one-of-two/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“The dark might be dark, but at least we don’t have to look at ourselves when we’re standing in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-dark-might-be-dark-but-at-least-we-don-t-have-to-look-at/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“I’d like to run away, to flee from what I know, from what is mine, from what I love. I want to set off,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/i-d-like-to-run-away-to-flee-from-what-i-know-from-what-is-mine-from/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“It does no good to run. And it does no good to hide. But I know what it's like. Your brain shuts down, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-carey-peter-gross/it-does-no-good-to-run-and-it-does-no-good-to-hide-but-i-know-what-it/) Mike Carey & Peter Gross ## More by Edward Tufte > [If you’re told what to look for, you can’t see anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/if-you-re-told-what-to-look-for-you-can-t-see-anything-else/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [“Comparisons must be enforced within the scope of the eyespan, a fundamental point occasionally forgotten in practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/comparisons-must-be-enforced-within-the-scope-of-the-eyespan-a/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [If there is a well thought-out design standard, it should be followed. In practice, great design comes from great designers. That is empirically the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/if-there-is-a-well-thought-out-design-standard-it-should-be-followed/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [The point of the essay is to change things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/the-point-of-the-essay-is-to-change-things/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [Here's the general theory: To clarify, add detail. Imagine that. To clarify, add detail. And clutter and overload are not an attribute of information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/here-s-the-general-theory-to-clarify-add-detail-imagine-that-to/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [My idea here is that, inasmuch as certain cognitive tasks and principles are tied to nature's laws, these tasks and principles are indifferent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/my-idea-here-is-that-inasmuch-as-certain-cognitive-tasks-and/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [Clutter and confusion are failures of design, not attributes of information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/clutter-and-confusion-are-failures-of-design-not-attributes-of/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [Confusion and clutter are failures of design, not attributes of information. And so the point is to find design strategies that reveal detail and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/confusion-and-clutter-are-failures-of-design-not-attributes-of/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [We've drifted into this presentation mode without realizing the cost to the content and the audience in the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/we-ve-drifted-into-this-presentation-mode-without-realizing-the-cost/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [If your words or images are not on point, making them dance in color won't make them relevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/if-your-words-or-images-are-not-on-point-making-them-dance-in-color/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [I hope that I am generous and tolerant, but certainly on the intellectual side I think that there are discoverable truths, and some things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/i-hope-that-i-am-generous-and-tolerant-but-certainly-on-the/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [“If the statistics are boring, then you've got the wrong numbers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/if-the-statistics-are-boring-then-you-ve-got-the-wrong-numbers/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [Good design is a lot like clear thinking made visual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/good-design-is-a-lot-like-clear-thinking-made-visual/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [I think it is important for software to avoiding imposing a cognitive style on workers and their work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/i-think-it-is-important-for-software-to-avoiding-imposing-a-cognitive/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [The essential test of design is how well it assists the understanding of the content, not how stylish it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/the-essential-test-of-design-is-how-well-it-assists-the-understanding/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) [Explore all 64 Edward Tufte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) ## More Action 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/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most common user action on a Web site is to flee.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Tufte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/the-most-common-user-action-on-a-web-site-is-to-flee/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/the-most-common-user-action-on-a-web-site-is-to-flee/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/edward-tufte-10613_action_the-most-common-user-action-on-a-web-sit_1523150.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/edward-tufte-10613_action_the-most-common-user-action-on-a-web-sit_1523150.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/edward-tufte-10613_action_the-most-common-user-action-on-a-web-sit_1523150.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most common user action on a Web site is to flee.” — Edward Tufte", "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": "Edward Tufte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most common user action on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/the-most-common-user-action-on-a-web-site-is-to-flee/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/the-most-common-user-action-on-a-web-site-is-to-flee/#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 } } ] } ```