---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes you can get distracted by…"
description: "\"Sometimes you can get distracted by figures that are thrown out there and you're doing things you wouldn't normally try to do.\" — Sean Longstaff"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/sean-longstaff-25035_distracted_sometimes-you-can-get-distracted-by-figu_413309.jpg"
---

#  Sometimes you can get distracted by figures that are…

![“Sometimes you can get distracted by figures that are thrown out there and you're doing things you wouldn't normally try to do.” quote by Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/sean-longstaff-25035_distracted_sometimes-you-can-get-distracted-by-figu_413309.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/sean-longstaff-25035_distracted_sometimes-you-can-get-distracted-by-figu_413309.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/sean-longstaff-25035_distracted_sometimes-you-can-get-distracted-by-figu_413309.jpg)

> “Sometimes you can get distracted by figures that are thrown out there and you're doing things you wouldn't normally try to do.”

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People may be swayed by sensational statistics and try actions they normally wouldn't.

**In simple terms:** Sensational data can mislead behavior.

Key Takeaway

Critically evaluate data before acting.

Themes

critical thinking media literacy decision making

Mood

cautious inquisitive

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

- marketing campaigns
- investment decisions
- policy debates
- personal habits

Key Concepts

cognitive bias information overload

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you verify the credibility of a statistic?
- What safeguards can prevent impulsive actions?

A Different Perspective

Data can be manipulated to provoke emotional responses.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [I'd rather be a face for happiness and doing things that you have a passion for, rather than faking it and pretending like I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-delle-donne/i-d-rather-be-a-face-for-happiness-and-doing-things-that-you-have-a/)

[Elena Delle Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-delle-donne/)

> [I'm going to work with Republicans when they do things I agree with and I'm going to fight Republicans when they're doing things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-m-going-to-work-with-republicans-when-they-do-things-i-agree-with/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [If you keep doing things that don't matter to you, you will not have time to do things that really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/if-you-keep-doing-things-that-don-t-matter-to-you-you-will-not-have/)

RVM

> [I like being independent; I like doing things myself. I'm an instinctual person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/i-like-being-independent-i-like-doing-things-myself-i-m-an/)

[Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/)

> [When you look at that period when Warhol and the Velvets and the Stones were doing things, it was this intersection of art and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-robertson/when-you-look-at-that-period-when-warhol-and-the-velvets-and-the/)

[Robbie Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-robertson/)

> [I don't like doing things that are easy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-sharp/i-don-t-like-doing-things-that-are-easy/)

[Alex Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-sharp/)

> [I spent a lot of time doing things other people wanted me to do, so I'm doing what I want to do now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-malone/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-doing-things-other-people-wanted-me-to-do-so-i/)

[Karl Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-malone/)

> [You don't want to make awards the reason you're doing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/you-don-t-want-to-make-awards-the-reason-you-re-doing-things/)

[Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/)

> [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/)

[Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/)

> [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/)

[David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/)

> [“A distracted mind cannot build a disciplined life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glody-kikonga/a-distracted-mind-cannot-build-a-disciplined-life/)

[Glody Kikonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glody-kikonga/)

> [We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! But the question is, how do we live as women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-are-going-to-die-as-is-everyone-we-adore-i-hate-this-but-the/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [“You’ve so distracted me, your absence fans my love. Don’t ask how. Then you come near. “Do not…” I say, and “Do not…,” you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-ve-so-distracted-me-your-absence-fans-my-love-don-t-ask-how-then/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/)

[Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/)

> [Life is Too Short to be Distracted by the Opinions of Others.. Live it the way you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/life-is-too-short-to-be-distracted-by-the-opinions-of-others-live-it/)

Senoraroy

## More by Sean Longstaff

> [I am used to just playing football with my mates at Newcastle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/i-am-used-to-just-playing-football-with-my-mates-at-newcastle/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [Playing regular first-team football is a massive carrot as I have been in the reserves for two or three years. I'm used to playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/playing-regular-first-team-football-is-a-massive-carrot-as-i-have/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [You start going to games when you're younger but you think it's the norm that every football club in the world has that many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/you-start-going-to-games-when-you-re-younger-but-you-think-it-s-the/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [I'm lucky to have my uncle there as he has been able to guide me through it a bit so I was not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/i-m-lucky-to-have-my-uncle-there-as-he-has-been-able-to-guide-me/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [I've always wanted to play for Newcastle, and I've only had a little taste of that, so for me, it's about getting fit as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/i-ve-always-wanted-to-play-for-newcastle-and-i-ve-only-had-a-little/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [I just get my head down and work on the pitch. Like anybody knows, you are no use to anybody if you aren't fit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/i-just-get-my-head-down-and-work-on-the-pitch-like-anybody-knows-you/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [I was 18, I wanted to be a first-year pro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/i-was-18-i-wanted-to-be-a-first-year-pro/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [If the team start picking up results, everything will look more positive and people will forget about the previous manager, as long as we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/if-the-team-start-picking-up-results-everything-will-look-more/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [I speak to Matt Ritchie a lot, he's someone I lean on in the squad. He tends to keep us grounded and he's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/i-speak-to-matt-ritchie-a-lot-he-s-someone-i-lean-on-in-the-squad-he/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [The outside noise is something I try not to listen to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/the-outside-noise-is-something-i-try-not-to-listen-to/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [There's not loads of people you can trust, so to have your brother out there alongside you, knowing he's got your back, is special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/there-s-not-loads-of-people-you-can-trust-so-to-have-your-brother-out/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [I wanted to look back and say to those coaches, 'You're wrong, I'll be the one who kicks on and makes it'. Only I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/i-wanted-to-look-back-and-say-to-those-coaches-you-re-wrong-i-ll-be/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [I haven't changed, I'm still the same lad who lives at home with my mam, brother and sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/i-haven-t-changed-i-m-still-the-same-lad-who-lives-at-home-with-my/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [I realised, 'I'm not going to dribble past five payers and score', so for me it was about having something different, and being two-footed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/i-realised-i-m-not-going-to-dribble-past-five-payers-and-score-so-for/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

> [It's been great to play against the top teams in the world, it can only benefit me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/it-s-been-great-to-play-against-the-top-teams-in-the-world-it-can/)

[Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

[Explore all 23 Sean Longstaff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/)

## More Distracted quotes

> [Life is Too Short to be Distracted by the Opinions of Others.. Live it the way you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/life-is-too-short-to-be-distracted-by-the-opinions-of-others-live-it/)

Senoraroy

> [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/)

[Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/)

> [“You’ve so distracted me, your absence fans my love. Don’t ask how. Then you come near. “Do not…” I say, and “Do not…,” you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-ve-so-distracted-me-your-absence-fans-my-love-don-t-ask-how-then/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! But the question is, how do we live as women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-are-going-to-die-as-is-everyone-we-adore-i-hate-this-but-the/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [“A distracted mind cannot build a disciplined life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glody-kikonga/a-distracted-mind-cannot-build-a-disciplined-life/)

[Glody Kikonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glody-kikonga/)

> [He was distracted by a giggle, and turned to see a rare sight: a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/he-was-distracted-by-a-giggle-and-turned-to-see-a-rare-sight-a-girl/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [One should not be too distracted by definitions. Ideas transcend definitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/one-should-not-be-too-distracted-by-definitions-ideas-transcend/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [I would make a genuinely terrible guide. I can't remember things. I would get half way through telling a story or explaining something and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/i-would-make-a-genuinely-terrible-guide-i-can-t-remember-things-i/)

[Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/)

> [We are distracted from our greatness because are greatness is what scares us. Right where you are…God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-are-distracted-from-our-greatness-because-are-greatness-is-what/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [The more you focus on yourself, the more distracted you will be from the proper path. The more you know Him and commune with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-more-you-focus-on-yourself-the-more-distracted-you-will-be-from/)

[John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/)

> [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [You cannot control your own population by force, but it can be distracted by consumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-cannot-control-your-own-population-by-force-but-it-can-be/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [“She thinks I am easily distracted when I drive. There were a few fender benders, but she doesn’t actually realize I was playing bumper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-ann-lunsford/she-thinks-i-am-easily-distracted-when-i-drive-there-were-a-few/)

[Leigh Ann Lunsford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-ann-lunsford/)

> [I dipped into his brain. He wasn't happy that I wasn't wearing a bra, because my boobs distracted him. He was thinking I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/i-dipped-into-his-brain-he-wasn-t-happy-that-i-wasn-t-wearing-a-bra/)

[Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/)

> [It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-crosby/it-seemed-intended-by-the-blessed-providence-of-god-that-i-should-be/)

[Fanny Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-crosby/)

Browse all 593 Distracted quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Sometimes you can get distracted by figures that are thrown out there and you're doing things you wouldn't normally try to do.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sean Longstaff"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/sometimes-you-can-get-distracted-by-figures-that-are-thrown-out-there/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Distracted"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/sometimes-you-can-get-distracted-by-figures-that-are-thrown-out-there/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/sean-longstaff-25035_distracted_sometimes-you-can-get-distracted-by-figu_413309.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/sean-longstaff-25035_distracted_sometimes-you-can-get-distracted-by-figu_413309.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/sean-longstaff-25035_distracted_sometimes-you-can-get-distracted-by-figu_413309.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sometimes you can get distracted by figures that are thrown out there and you're doing things you wouldn't…” — Sean Longstaff",
                "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": "Sean Longstaff",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Sometimes you can get distracted by...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/sometimes-you-can-get-distracted-by-figures-that-are-thrown-out-there/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/sometimes-you-can-get-distracted-by-figures-that-are-thrown-out-there/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
