--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Attention is like energy in that without…" description: "\"Attention is like energy in that without it no work can be done, and in doing work is dissipated. We create ourselves by how we use this energy. Memori..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_attention_attention-is-like-energy-in-that-without_777144.jpg" --- # Attention is like energy in that without it no work can be… ![“Attention is like energy in that without it no work can be done, and in doing work is dissipated. We create ourselves by how we use this energy. Memories, thoughts and feelings are all shaped by how use it. And it is an energy under control, to do with as we please; hence attention is our most…” quote by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_attention_attention-is-like-energy-in-that-without_777144.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_attention_attention-is-like-energy-in-that-without_777144.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_attention_attention-is-like-energy-in-that-without_777144.jpg) > “Attention is like energy in that without it no work can be done, and in doing work is dissipated. We create ourselves by how we use this energy. Memories, thoughts and feelings are all shaped by how use it. And it is an energy under control, to do with as we please; hence attention is our most important tool in the task of improving the quality of experience.” [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attention functions as energy; without it no work occurs, and it shapes memories, thoughts, and feelings. **In simple terms:** Attention is the energy that drives and colors our mental life. Key Takeaway Cultivate focused attention. Themes attention energy experience Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - learning - creative work - personal growth Key Concepts cognitive psychology mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you allocate attention daily? - What habits protect attention from distraction? A Different Perspective Attention can be scattered; over‑focus may cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Thoughts and feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-and-feelings/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) ## Related quotes > [It is amazing how little effort most people make to improve control of their attention. If reading a book seems too difficult, instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/it-is-amazing-how-little-effort-most-people-make-to-improve-control/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“These examples suggest what one needs to learn to control attention. In principle any skill or discipline one can master on one’s own will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/these-examples-suggest-what-one-needs-to-learn-to-control-attention/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“Are we paying attention to what is important, inhibiting the things that will not help or will hurt us, and keeping current?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/are-we-paying-attention-to-what-is-important-inhibiting-the-things/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [Makeup is part of my daily routine. It's the time in my mornings when I can concentrate on me, and me alone. Giving yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-von-d/makeup-is-part-of-my-daily-routine-it-s-the-time-in-my-mornings-when/) [Kat Von D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-von-d/) > [You have to pay a lot of attention to what's important, what's permanent, what's real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-balsillie/you-have-to-pay-a-lot-of-attention-to-what-s-important-what-s/) [Jim Balsillie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-balsillie/) > [Attention is important, because whatever you pay attention to grows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/attention-is-important-because-whatever-you-pay-attention-to-grows/) Senoraroy > [Your own attention is important, not the attention of others or your attention on others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/your-own-attention-is-important-not-the-attention-of-others-or-your/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [I hope to bring much more attention to important issues and change for issues and practices that are harming animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/i-hope-to-bring-much-more-attention-to-important-issues-and-change/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [The ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-shiller/the-ability-to-focus-attention-on-important-things-is-a-defining/) [Robert J. Shiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-shiller/) > [Of all the things Christ wants for us, loving Him and focusing our attention on Him are the most important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/of-all-the-things-christ-wants-for-us-loving-him-and-focusing-our/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [If we are paying attention to something, it's important. That's how we decide to pay attention. But a communicator can reroute our attention to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cialdini/if-we-are-paying-attention-to-something-it-s-important-that-s-how-we/) [Robert Cialdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cialdini/) > [May you live in interesting times and come to the attention of important people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-frank-russell/may-you-live-in-interesting-times-and-come-to-the-attention-of/) [Eric Frank Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-frank-russell/) > [Attention is the most important currency that anybody can give you. It’s worth more than money, possession, or things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-parr/attention-is-the-most-important-currency-that-anybody-can-give-you-it/) [Ben Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-parr/) > [Attention to detail is important in football, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sony-michel/attention-to-detail-is-important-in-football-period/) [Sony Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sony-michel/) > [This is suffering's lesson: pay attention. The important part might come in a form you do not recognize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-manguso/this-is-suffering-s-lesson-pay-attention-the-important-part-might/) [Sarah Manguso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-manguso/) ## More by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi > [“Entropy is the normal state of consciousness—a condition that is neither useful nor enjoyable. To avoid this condition, people are naturally eager to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/entropy-is-the-normal-state-of-consciousness-a-condition-that-is/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Most enjoyable activities are not natural; they demand an effort that initially one is reluctant to make. But once the interaction starts to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/most-enjoyable-activities-are-not-natural-they-demand-an-effort-that/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [People without an internalized symbolic system can all too easily become captives of the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/people-without-an-internalized-symbolic-system-can-all-too-easily/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Through learning we grow, becoming more than we were before, and in that sense learning is unselfish, because it results in the transformation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/through-learning-we-grow-becoming-more-than-we-were-before-and-in/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“Unfortunately, many people find the only challenges they can respond to are violence, gambling, random sex, or drugs. Some of these experiences can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/unfortunately-many-people-find-the-only-challenges-they-can-respond/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [It is essential to learn to enjoy life. It really does not make sense to go through the motions of existence if one does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/it-is-essential-to-learn-to-enjoy-life-it-really-does-not-make-sense/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“It is usual to explain the motivation of those who enjoy dangerous activities as some sort of pathological need: they are trying to exorcise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/it-is-usual-to-explain-the-motivation-of-those-who-enjoy-dangerous/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“Wisdom and integrity cannot be found in any single domain. A broader viewpoint that breaks across disciplinary boundaries is needed, a way of understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/wisdom-and-integrity-cannot-be-found-in-any-single-domain-a-broader/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [For better or worse, our future will be determined in large part by our dreams and by the struggle to make them real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-determined-in-large-part-by/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Many business leaders today view their jobs as entailing responsibility for the welfare of the wider community. These individuals do not define themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/many-business-leaders-today-view-their-jobs-as-entailing/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [The rules themselves are clear enough, and within everyone’s reach. But many forces, both within ourselves and in the environment, stand in the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/the-rules-themselves-are-clear-enough-and-within-everyone-s-reach-but/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [When each of these three elements of vision-concern for excellence, for people and for the wider environment-are present, business is transformed from a tool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/when-each-of-these-three-elements-of-vision-concern-for-excellence/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [If an enterprise does not aspire to be the best of its kind, it will attract second-rate employees, and it will be soon forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/if-an-enterprise-does-not-aspire-to-be-the-best-of-its-kind-it-will/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Only direct control of experience, the ability to derive moment-by-moment enjoyment from everything we do, can overcome the obstacles to fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/only-direct-control-of-experience-the-ability-to-derive-moment-by/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Try to be surprised by something every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/try-to-be-surprised-by-something-every-day/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) [Explore all 262 Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) ## 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 like energy in that without it no work can be done, and in doing work is dissipated. 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