--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of us, however committed we are to…" description: "\"Most of us, however committed we are to our ideals, will find ourselves every now and again reading an attention-grabbing headline from the Daily Mail ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/383/mallory-ortberg-7200_attention_most-of-us-however-committed-we-are-to-o_2147604.jpg" --- # Most of us, however committed we are to our ideals, will… ![“Most of us, however committed we are to our ideals, will find ourselves every now and again reading an attention-grabbing headline from the Daily Mail or some other lowest-common denominator. That's not the same thing as frequenting a site like the white supremacist Stormfront.” quote by Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/383/mallory-ortberg-7200_attention_most-of-us-however-committed-we-are-to-o_2147604.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/383/mallory-ortberg-7200_attention_most-of-us-however-committed-we-are-to-o_2147604.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/383/mallory-ortberg-7200_attention_most-of-us-however-committed-we-are-to-o_2147604.jpg) > “Most of us, however committed we are to our ideals, will find ourselves every now and again reading an attention-grabbing headline from the Daily Mail or some other lowest-common denominator. That's not the same thing as frequenting a site like the white supremacist Stormfront.” [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even committed idealists can be drawn to sensationalist media, which differs from extremist platforms. **In simple terms:** People can be attracted to eye‑catching headlines despite their values. Key Takeaway Guard against superficial distractions. Themes media literacy ideals attention extremism Mood cautious thoughtful Type reflective educational When to use this quote - personal reading habits - online community engagement Key Concepts critical thinking information consumption ethical journalism Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help you stay focused on core values? - How do you differentiate between engaging content and harmful propaganda? A Different Perspective The pull of sensationalism can undermine principled action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Common denominator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-denominator/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Lowest common denominator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lowest-common-denominator/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Supremacist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supremacist/) ## Related quotes > [“Once she’d remarked, for example, that the problem, even for socialist countries, is that those people who are deeply committed to ideals of any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adelle-waldman/once-she-d-remarked-for-example-that-the-problem-even-for-socialist/) [Adelle Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adelle-waldman/) > [America has that agenda, a White supremacist agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/america-has-that-agenda-a-white-supremacist-agenda/) [Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/) > [“Trust is a strange bedfellow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/march-lions/trust-is-a-strange-bedfellow/) [March Lions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/march-lions/) > [“A virgin," Flaminius smiled deviously. "I'll take her." Instantly, surprised chatter erupted. Mother Guardian held up her hand for silence. "You cannot be serious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therisa-peimer/a-virgin-flaminius-smiled-deviously-i-ll-take-her-instantly-surprised/) [Therisa Peimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therisa-peimer/) > [You cannot sit quiet while the KKK and other white supremacist groups rear their ugly heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-stallworth/you-cannot-sit-quiet-while-the-kkk-and-other-white-supremacist-groups/) [Ron Stallworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-stallworth/) > [Actually, I don't think most people join white supremacist groups because of the ideology or dogma. They gravitate to these groups because they've hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-picciolini/actually-i-don-t-think-most-people-join-white-supremacist-groups/) [Christian Picciolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-picciolini/) > [The U.S. was founded as a white supremacist nation; that's just what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/the-u-s-was-founded-as-a-white-supremacist-nation-that-s-just-what-it/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [“Tightening his embrace around his wife and little Theo, he vowed, "I will do everything in my power to continue being worthy of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therisa-peimer/tightening-his-embrace-around-his-wife-and-little-theo-he-vowed-i/) [Therisa Peimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therisa-peimer/) > [“America is a white supremacist bully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-aliwat/america-is-a-white-supremacist-bully/) [A.D. Aliwat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-aliwat/) > [It's the whole white-supremacist movement, no matter what they call themselves - be it Klan, Nazis, alt-right, skinheads - the basic ideology is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-stallworth/it-s-the-whole-white-supremacist-movement-no-matter-what-they-call/) [Ron Stallworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-stallworth/) > [“I'm not naive…I grew up in a white supremacist compound with a daddy who wanted to murder innocent people and blow up the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-anderson/i-m-not-naive-i-grew-up-in-a-white-supremacist-compound-with-a-daddy/) [Toni Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-anderson/) > [White supremacist? Let's see: if you have a guy who was married for 13 years to an Asian woman and who has two lovely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-murray/white-supremacist-let-s-see-if-you-have-a-guy-who-was-married-for-13/) [Charles Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-murray/) > [The KKK members that I was dealing with never saw me because my interaction with them occurred over the phone. They were convinced that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-stallworth/the-kkk-members-that-i-was-dealing-with-never-saw-me-because-my/) [Ron Stallworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-stallworth/) > [“The truth has a way of coming out of the closet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/march-lions/the-truth-has-a-way-of-coming-out-of-the-closet/) [March Lions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/march-lions/) > [I'm certainly not a white supremacist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stewart/i-m-certainly-not-a-white-supremacist/) [Corey Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stewart/) ## More by Mallory Ortberg > [Not wanting to give everyone in your life one of your kidneys is not the same thing as hoping they die of kidney failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/not-wanting-to-give-everyone-in-your-life-one-of-your-kidneys-is-not/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [I agree that biphobia is real, but I think it's absolutely worth considering that someone who "despises" having sex with her husband - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-agree-that-biphobia-is-real-but-i-think-it-s-absolutely-worth/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [If you get a dog, take care of your dog! You can just not have a dog if you don't feel like taking care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/if-you-get-a-dog-take-care-of-your-dog-you-can-just-not-have-a-dog-if/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [It is so tempting to return rudeness with rudeness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/it-is-so-tempting-to-return-rudeness-with-rudeness/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [I think that it's a great idea to have honest conversations about children before getting married. I also think it's impossible to promise someone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-think-that-it-s-a-great-idea-to-have-honest-conversations-about/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [Don't beat yourself up over what you dream about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/don-t-beat-yourself-up-over-what-you-dream-about/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [One of the glorious things about being a person in the world is that you don't have to worry about whether or not someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/one-of-the-glorious-things-about-being-a-person-in-the-world-is-that/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [You need to be able to express your resentment and sense of loss in a way that doesn't damage your partner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-need-to-be-able-to-express-your-resentment-and-sense-of-loss-in-a/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [Some people give gifts in order to bewilder, confuse, and manipulate their recipients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/some-people-give-gifts-in-order-to-bewilder-confuse-and-manipulate/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [Unlike celibacy, which people choose, asexuality is an intrinsic part of who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/unlike-celibacy-which-people-choose-asexuality-is-an-intrinsic-part/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [The mere idea of asking a family member if they intentionally stopped sending me an annual bonus makes me feel like breaking out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/the-mere-idea-of-asking-a-family-member-if-they-intentionally-stopped/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [You have a right to be treated professionally at work, and it's your supervisor's job to make sure all their employees can perform their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-have-a-right-to-be-treated-professionally-at-work-and-it-s-your/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [We are all going to die, sometimes even in the middle of a lease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/we-are-all-going-to-die-sometimes-even-in-the-middle-of-a-lease/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [o one is right when it comes to destination weddings. It’s a big ask, requesting people take time off work and fly off to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/o-one-is-right-when-it-comes-to-destination-weddings-it-s-a-big-ask/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [I love the art history ones because it's so little work for me. There's so many paintings that when I look at them, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-love-the-art-history-ones-because-it-s-so-little-work-for-me-there/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) [Explore all 93 Mallory Ortberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) ## 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": "Most of us, however committed we are to our ideals, will find ourselves every now and again reading an attention-grabbing headline from the Daily Mail or some other lowest-common denominator. 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