--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every person has only so much attention…" description: "\"Every person has only so much attention to give, and politics and government takes up only a fraction of what it did 25 years ago.\" — Robert Teeter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/robert-teeter-19629_attention_every-person-has-only-so-much-attention_1214940.jpg" --- # Every person has only so much attention to give, and… ![“Every person has only so much attention to give, and politics and government takes up only a fraction of what it did 25 years ago.” quote by Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/robert-teeter-19629_attention_every-person-has-only-so-much-attention_1214940.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/robert-teeter-19629_attention_every-person-has-only-so-much-attention_1214940.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/robert-teeter-19629_attention_every-person-has-only-so-much-attention_1214940.jpg) > “Every person has only so much attention to give, and politics and government takes up only a fraction of what it did 25 years ago.” [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attention is a limited resource; political news now consumes far less than two decades ago. **In simple terms:** People pay less attention to politics now. Key Takeaway Prioritize what truly matters. Themes attention media politics change focus Mood reflective analytical Type observational commentary When to use this quote - personal time management - media consumption - political engagement - education campaigns Key Concepts cognitive load information overload public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How has your media diet changed? - What issues deserve more of your focus? A Different Perspective The decline may be temporary as crises arise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [People, not just reporters, are more interested in politics than in government, so the actual issues wouldn't be something that interested them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/people-not-just-reporters-are-more-interested-in-politics-than-in/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [Big money and big business, corporations and commerce, are again the undisputed overlords of politics and government. The White House, the Congress and, increasingly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/big-money-and-big-business-corporations-and-commerce-are-again-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Almost all analysis of politics and government considers relatively surface phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cummings/almost-all-analysis-of-politics-and-government-considers-relatively/) [Dominic Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cummings/) > [Contrary to the prevailing notion that good governance is bad politics, in reality good governance is good politics. A government should work keeping in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/contrary-to-the-prevailing-notion-that-good-governance-is-bad/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Politics is a fascinating game, because politics is government. It is the art of government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/politics-is-a-fascinating-game-because-politics-is-government-it-is/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [I'm in politics. I'm in government, so nothing surprises me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-m-in-politics-i-m-in-government-so-nothing-surprises-me/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I am always suspicious of the formulation that "politics" has prevented a great idea from being enacted by government. Politics IS government, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lemann/i-am-always-suspicious-of-the-formulation-that-politics-has-prevented/) [Nicholas Lemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lemann/) > [You know why I got involved in politics? The government is now a majority partner in my life. I am now a minority partner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/you-know-why-i-got-involved-in-politics-the-government-is-now-a/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [The teaching of politics is that the Government, which was set for protection and comfort of all good citizens, becomes the principal obstruction and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-teaching-of-politics-is-that-the-government-which-was-set-for/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [All I wanted was to be involved in politics and government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-quinn/all-i-wanted-was-to-be-involved-in-politics-and-government/) [Christine Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-quinn/) > [Democracy is less a system of government than it is a system to keep government limited, unintrusive; a system of constraints on power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/democracy-is-less-a-system-of-government-than-it-is-a-system-to-keep/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“I make it a point not to pay attention to politics anymore.” “Yes, but soon politics will be paying attention to you,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-schlichter/i-make-it-a-point-not-to-pay-attention-to-politics-anymore-yes-but/) [Kurt Schlichter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-schlichter/) > [“I don't pay any attention to politics." "You should. It's only barely less important than your own heartbeat." "I don't pay any attention to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinlein-robert-a/i-don-t-pay-any-attention-to-politics-you-should-it-s-only-barely/) Heinlein Robert A > [Abolishing university tuition fees and getting rid of unnecessary speed cameras are ideas that can be grasped instantly, and grab the attention of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/abolishing-university-tuition-fees-and-getting-rid-of-unnecessary/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [I come from a past of addition, so I didn't pay much attention to politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lindell/i-come-from-a-past-of-addition-so-i-didn-t-pay-much-attention-to/) [Mike Lindell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lindell/) ## More by Robert Teeter > [It is my belief that it is not the fact that he traveled as much as he did during the past few months as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/it-is-my-belief-that-it-is-not-the-fact-that-he-traveled-as-much-as/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [While the President leads his potential adversaries in almost every state, his support is soft. He is seen as honest, sincere, just, and friendly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/while-the-president-leads-his-potential-adversaries-in-almost-every/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [Whatever he does should be seen as working at the Presidency and if he goes to Colorado for Christmas, it should be for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/whatever-he-does-should-be-seen-as-working-at-the-presidency-and-if/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [Most of the things that need to be said about the President are things he can't say himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/most-of-the-things-that-need-to-be-said-about-the-president-are/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [People feel that decisions about their jobs, the way their children are educated, how their church functions, and products they buy are made by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/people-feel-that-decisions-about-their-jobs-the-way-their-children/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [This has resulted in more and more people becoming inner-directed and having as their only goal, getting as much as they can get out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/this-has-resulted-in-more-and-more-people-becoming-inner-directed-and/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [I think he could have made most of the trips and gone to most of the fund-raisers if he would have avoided the partisan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/i-think-he-could-have-made-most-of-the-trips-and-gone-to-most-of-the/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [While only about half of the voters feel they know very much about Reagan or what he stands for, the Republicans who do have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/while-only-about-half-of-the-voters-feel-they-know-very-much-about/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [We should remember the campaign advertising will be only a smaller portion of the President's total exposure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/we-should-remember-the-campaign-advertising-will-be-only-a-smaller/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [We have for the past year and undoubtedly will be for the next year, dealing with an electorate that is more alienated and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/we-have-for-the-past-year-and-undoubtedly-will-be-for-the-next-year/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [We ought not to be looking for something spectacular but rather develop a plan in conjunction with the White House to work our way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/we-ought-not-to-be-looking-for-something-spectacular-but-rather/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [This person should not be directly connected with the President Ford Committee nor should he be seen as a member of the liberal wing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/this-person-should-not-be-directly-connected-with-the-president-ford/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [People just automatically say 'If this guy is George and Barbara Bush's son, we don't have any question about those personal qualities that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/people-just-automatically-say-if-this-guy-is-george-and-barbara-bush/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [Another cause for the increase in alienation and cynicism is a feeling that too many policy decisions that affect individuals have been taken out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/another-cause-for-the-increase-in-alienation-and-cynicism-is-a/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [There are not enough people out talking about the President positively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/there-are-not-enough-people-out-talking-about-the-president-positively/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) [Explore all 32 Robert Teeter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) ## 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": "Every person has only so much attention to give, and politics and government takes up only a fraction of what it did 25 years ago.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Teeter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/every-person-has-only-so-much-attention-to-give-and-politics-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/every-person-has-only-so-much-attention-to-give-and-politics-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/robert-teeter-19629_attention_every-person-has-only-so-much-attention_1214940.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/robert-teeter-19629_attention_every-person-has-only-so-much-attention_1214940.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/robert-teeter-19629_attention_every-person-has-only-so-much-attention_1214940.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every person has only so much attention to give, and politics and government takes up only a fraction of…” — Robert Teeter", "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": "Robert Teeter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every person has only so much...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/every-person-has-only-so-much-attention-to-give-and-politics-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/every-person-has-only-so-much-attention-to-give-and-politics-and/#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 } } ] } ```