--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't spend too much time attempting to…" description: "\"I don't spend too much time attempting to defend myself against people who seem to have zero desire to have a substantive conversation.\" — Sho Baraka" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/sho-baraka-21805_attempting_i-don-t-spend-too-much-time-attempting-t_1402030.png" --- # I don't spend too much time attempting to defend myself… ![“I don't spend too much time attempting to defend myself against people who seem to have zero desire to have a substantive conversation.” quote by Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/sho-baraka-21805_attempting_i-don-t-spend-too-much-time-attempting-t_1402030.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/sho-baraka-21805_attempting_i-don-t-spend-too-much-time-attempting-t_1402030.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/sho-baraka-21805_attempting_i-don-t-spend-too-much-time-attempting-t_1402030.png) > “I don't spend too much time attempting to defend myself against people who seem to have zero desire to have a substantive conversation.” [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding defense against uninterested interlocutors preserves energy for meaningful dialogue. **In simple terms:** Don’t waste time defending the uninterested. Key Takeaway Focus on constructive conversations. Themes communication boundaries dialogue energy management relationships Mood pragmatic assertive Type advice motivational When to use this quote - networking events - online debates - team meetings - family discussions Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is it worth defending a weak argument? - How can you engage the uninterested constructively? A Different Perspective It may dismiss opportunities to educate the indifferent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [We need a more substantive conversation around race relations and the way people of color are treated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/we-need-a-more-substantive-conversation-around-race-relations-and-the/) [Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/) > [ We also discussed \[with the President of Mexico\] the great contributions of Mexican-American citizens to our two countries, my love for the people of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-also-discussed-with-the-president-of-mexico-the-great/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I'll always defend the people I love. -Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-direction/i-ll-always-defend-the-people-i-love-niall-horan/) [One Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-direction/) > [To see the other side, to defend another people, not despite your tradition but because of it, is the heart of pluralism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eboo-patel/to-see-the-other-side-to-defend-another-people-not-despite-your/) [Eboo Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eboo-patel/) > [I feel no compunction to defend L.A. People criticize it, and for the most part, it's well-founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d/i-feel-no-compunction-to-defend-l-a-people-criticize-it-and-for-the/) [Mike D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d/) > [I’ll always defend the people I love even though I’m as terrifying as a baby penguin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-ll-always-defend-the-people-i-love-even-though-i-m-as-terrifying-as/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [The best defense for any group of people is what we do to defend other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/the-best-defense-for-any-group-of-people-is-what-we-do-to-defend/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [People have me pinned as a shark or a predator in some way, and in no way am I that. I wouldn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/people-have-me-pinned-as-a-shark-or-a-predator-in-some-way-and-in-no/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Defend yourselves! If people don't defend their rights, they lose them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mosley/defend-yourselves-if-people-don-t-defend-their-rights-they-lose-them/) [Max Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mosley/) > [On a few words of what is real in the world I nourish myself. I defend myself against Whatever remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/on-a-few-words-of-what-is-real-in-the-world-i-nourish-myself-i-defend/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [“...I long ago gave up defending humanity. It's beyond me on most days to defend myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/i-long-ago-gave-up-defending-humanity-it-s-beyond-me-on-most-days-to/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“One day I had nothing but my childhood to defend myself…..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sameh-elsayed/one-day-i-had-nothing-but-my-childhood-to-defend-myself/) [Sameh Elsayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sameh-elsayed/) > [For me, I don't have to defend myself that I am not a racist. I won't go in that discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxime-bernier/for-me-i-don-t-have-to-defend-myself-that-i-am-not-a-racist-i-won-t/) [Maxime Bernier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxime-bernier/) > [I cannot defend myself during a trial if there is no charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sooraj-pancholi/i-cannot-defend-myself-during-a-trial-if-there-is-no-charge/) [Sooraj Pancholi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sooraj-pancholi/) > [Swearing's my release. It's the one weapon I have to defend myself against destiny when it elects to strike without pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-pirlo/swearing-s-my-release-it-s-the-one-weapon-i-have-to-defend-myself/) [Andrea Pirlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-pirlo/) ## More by Sho Baraka > [It's true that PC culture has created very little honest dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/it-s-true-that-pc-culture-has-created-very-little-honest-dialogue/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [Everyone wants to be truth tellers today while never thinking we are the ones who need the truth told to us. It's quite amusing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/everyone-wants-to-be-truth-tellers-today-while-never-thinking-we-are/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [Hip-hop, you're close to 50. When can we grow up?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/hip-hop-you-re-close-to-50-when-can-we-grow-up/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [We think everyone but us need the unadulterated truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/we-think-everyone-but-us-need-the-unadulterated-truth/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [Power is intoxicating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/power-is-intoxicating/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [You can be a dreamer, but don't live in your bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/you-can-be-a-dreamer-but-don-t-live-in-your-bed/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [I pray daily for wisdom on how to serve my kids without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/i-pray-daily-for-wisdom-on-how-to-serve-my-kids-without-words/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [Keep compassion close to your chest at all times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/keep-compassion-close-to-your-chest-at-all-times/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [The Bible cares about the systems that create oppression. We see this in the Exodus all the way to Jesus' interactions with Zacchaeus and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/the-bible-cares-about-the-systems-that-create-oppression-we-see-this/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [I understood my personal responsibility in putting Christ on the cross and the implications of how the Gospel impacts every area of life. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/i-understood-my-personal-responsibility-in-putting-christ-on-the/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [I grew up in a loving household that taught me how to respect others and love God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/i-grew-up-in-a-loving-household-that-taught-me-how-to-respect-others/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [Get a team of like-minded individuals around you. Understand this is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/get-a-team-of-like-minded-individuals-around-you-understand-this-is/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [Make sure you don't become the very thing you find yourself fighting against.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/make-sure-you-don-t-become-the-very-thing-you-find-yourself-fighting/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [I wanted to create a story that would address America's history, successes, and problems while pointing to a hopeful resolution. I wanted it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/i-wanted-to-create-a-story-that-would-address-america-s-history/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [We may never truly see the fruits of the labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/we-may-never-truly-see-the-fruits-of-the-labor/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) [Explore all 28 Sho Baraka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) ## More Attempting quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [To attempt to be religious without practicing a specific religion is as possible as attempting to speak without a specific language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/to-attempt-to-be-religious-without-practicing-a-specific-religion-is/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Ewan McGregor stars as Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, again doing a fine Alec Guinness impersonation but otherwise seeming lost and alone in the galaxy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/ewan-mcgregor-stars-as-jedi-obi-wan-kenobi-again-doing-a-fine-alec/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [I'm a dreamer and continue to dream of what can and will be, "Expecting great things from God, Attempting great things for God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/i-m-a-dreamer-and-continue-to-dream-of-what-can-and-will-be-expecting/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [I swear you’re a woman. (Devyn) I would respond to that, but I don’t want to distract you while you’re attempting to drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-swear-you-re-a-woman-devyn-i-would-respond-to-that-but-i-don-t-want/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-danger-to-which-the-success-of-revolutions-is-most-exposed-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“failure is not an outcome, but involves a lack of trying—not stretching yourself far enough out of your comfort zone and attempting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/failure-is-not-an-outcome-but-involves-a-lack-of-trying-not/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy-is-thrown-away-in-attempting/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. Instead I bow my head in gratitude to those storytellers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-am-not-attempting-to-preserve-culture-or-record-actual-events-or/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) Browse all 513 Attempting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't spend too much time attempting to defend myself against people who seem to have zero desire to have a substantive conversation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sho Baraka" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/i-don-t-spend-too-much-time-attempting-to-defend-myself-against/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attempting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/i-don-t-spend-too-much-time-attempting-to-defend-myself-against/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/sho-baraka-21805_attempting_i-don-t-spend-too-much-time-attempting-t_1402030.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/sho-baraka-21805_attempting_i-don-t-spend-too-much-time-attempting-t_1402030.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/sho-baraka-21805_attempting_i-don-t-spend-too-much-time-attempting-t_1402030.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't spend too much time attempting to defend myself against people who seem to have zero desire to have…” — Sho Baraka", "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": "Sho Baraka", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't spend too much time...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/i-don-t-spend-too-much-time-attempting-to-defend-myself-against/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/i-don-t-spend-too-much-time-attempting-to-defend-myself-against/#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 } } ] } ```