Attention Quote by Robert Cialdini
“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 something that isn't important, but make it seem important as a consequence.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, 1984
Attention is a limited resource; communicators can manipulate perceived importance.
In simple terms: Attention can be redirected to trivial matters.
Scrutinize why something seems important.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- marketing
- political speech
- education
- social media
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When do you trust a communicator’s priority?
- How can you verify true importance?
Not all attention‑shifting is malicious.