--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Attention is a limited resource, so pay…" description: "\"Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.\" — Howard Rheingold" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/howard-rheingold-2794_attention_attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-a_9783.png" --- # Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where… ![“Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.” quote by Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/howard-rheingold-2794_attention_attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-a_9783.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/howard-rheingold-2794_attention_attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-a_9783.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/howard-rheingold-2794_attention_attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-a_9783.png) > “Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.” [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human attention is scarce; directing it wisely determines what we truly notice and act upon. **In simple terms:** Focus your focus. Key Takeaway Prioritize attention. Themes attention management cognitive load mindfulness productivity decision making Mood thoughtful urgent reflective Type advice observation maxim When to use this quote - working on a project - studying for exams - media consumption - team meetings - strategic planning Key Concepts limited resources focus awareness Practical Applications - designing user interfaces - setting personal goals Questions to Reflect On - How does your current focus align with your priorities? - What distractions can you eliminate? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Limited resources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limited-resources/) ## Related quotes > [Happiness is not a limited resource. So help yourself, and there will be plenty left for everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/happiness-is-not-a-limited-resource-so-help-yourself-and-there-will/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [Youth is the ultimate limited resource.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/youth-is-the-ultimate-limited-resource/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [Human attention is limited, and a massive number of newly browsable books from the long tail necessarily compete with the biggest best-sellers, just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-wolf/human-attention-is-limited-and-a-massive-number-of-newly-browsable/) [Gary Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-wolf/) > [“Time unlike all other assets that a person freely possesses a truly limited resource”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-unlike-all-other-assets-that-a-person-freely-possesses-a-truly/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [When you have a limited resource and you have a lot of people wanting that resource, then those who get more justify as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-sibal/when-you-have-a-limited-resource-and-you-have-a-lot-of-people-wanting/) [Kapil Sibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-sibal/) > [I grew up in the South Bronx, raised by my grandmother, who scrapped and scraped to make sure I had a roof over my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-bryant/i-grew-up-in-the-south-bronx-raised-by-my-grandmother-who-scrapped/) [Joy Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-bryant/) > [Much like tobacco companies want to keep smokers dependent on their deadly product, the oil industry wants to keep California dependent on oil –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barrett/much-like-tobacco-companies-want-to-keep-smokers-dependent-on-their/) [William Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barrett/) > [You need only examine your present situation to discover unlimited resources and opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-kiev/you-need-only-examine-your-present-situation-to-discover-unlimited/) [Ari Kiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-kiev/) > [In a race for limited resources, it is the energy efficient that will win the race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/in-a-race-for-limited-resources-it-is-the-energy-efficient-that-will/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [The presence of Christ brings us his power and ability to use our limited resources in limitless ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-pippert/the-presence-of-christ-brings-us-his-power-and-ability-to-use-our/) [Rebecca Pippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-pippert/) > [Whom the gods wish to destroy, they give unlimited resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/whom-the-gods-wish-to-destroy-they-give-unlimited-resources/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [ It was a tough film \["Selling Isobel"\] to make anyway, because we had limited resources. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-buitendach/it-was-a-tough-film-selling-isobel-to-make-anyway-because-we-had/) [Rudolf Buitendach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-buitendach/) > [If you take the burden of health care, of diseases off the backs of some other countries, it gives them a chance to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bush/if-you-take-the-burden-of-health-care-of-diseases-off-the-backs-of/) [Laura Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bush/) > [Our problem with limited resources is not primarily overpopulation; it is greed. Our problem with pollution is not the invention of fluorocarbons or mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winkie-pratney/our-problem-with-limited-resources-is-not-primarily-overpopulation-it/) [Winkie Pratney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winkie-pratney/) > [Foreign politicians don't have resources - or limited resources. It's useless dealing with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wang-jianlin/foreign-politicians-don-t-have-resources-or-limited-resources-it-s/) [Wang Jianlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wang-jianlin/) ## More by Howard Rheingold > [What person doesn't search online about their disease after they are diagnosed?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/what-person-doesn-t-search-online-about-their-disease-after-they-are/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [You can't pick up the telephone and say, 'Connect me with someone else who has a kid with leukemia.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/you-can-t-pick-up-the-telephone-and-say-connect-me-with-someone-else/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [We like technology because we don't have to talk to anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/we-like-technology-because-we-don-t-have-to-talk-to-anybody/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Attention is the fundamental instrument we use for learning, thinking, communicating, deciding, yet neither parents nor schools spend any time helping young people learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-the-fundamental-instrument-we-use-for-learning-thinking/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [One thing we didn't know in 1996 is that it's very, very difficult, if not impossible, to sustain a culture with online advertising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/one-thing-we-didn-t-know-in-1996-is-that-it-s-very-very-difficult-if/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Any virtual community that works, works because people put in some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/any-virtual-community-that-works-works-because-people-put-in-some-time/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [There actually are buildings that existed in cyberspace before they built it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/there-actually-are-buildings-that-existed-in-cyberspace-before-they/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [The world is restructuring, and all of the enemies that used to exist are kind of gone, so now they are looking out for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/the-world-is-restructuring-and-all-of-the-enemies-that-used-to-exist/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Kerouac was this kid who exemplified something happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/kerouac-was-this-kid-who-exemplified-something-happening/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Of course, with agriculture came the first big civilizations, the first cities built of mud and brick, the first empires. And it was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/of-course-with-agriculture-came-the-first-big-civilizations-the-first/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Its not a global village, but we're in a highly interconnected globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/its-not-a-global-village-but-we-re-in-a-highly-interconnected-globe/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [People's behavior will change with technology. I know very few young people who can't type out a text message on their phone with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/people-s-behavior-will-change-with-technology-i-know-very-few-young/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [I'm somebody who seems to stumble into things 10 or 20 years before the rest of the world does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/i-m-somebody-who-seems-to-stumble-into-things-10-or-20-years-before/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [There are always a few people who are hyper-normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/there-are-always-a-few-people-who-are-hyper-normal/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [The more material there is, the more need there is for filters. You don't need a printing press anymore, but you do need people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/the-more-material-there-is-the-more-need-there-is-for-filters-you-don/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) [Explore all 150 Howard Rheingold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) ## 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. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. 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": "Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Howard Rheingold" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-attention-to-where-you-pay/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-attention-to-where-you-pay/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/howard-rheingold-2794_attention_attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-a_9783.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/howard-rheingold-2794_attention_attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-a_9783.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/howard-rheingold-2794_attention_attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-a_9783.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.” — Howard Rheingold", "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": "Howard Rheingold", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Attention is a limited resource, so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-attention-to-where-you-pay/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-attention-to-where-you-pay/#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 } } ] } ```