---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’m in pain. That’s the only way I get…"
description: "\"I’m in pain. That’s the only way I get your attention\" — Suzanne Collins"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/suzanne-collins-60_attention_i-m-in-pain-that-s-the-only-way-i-get-yo_1450178.jpg"
---

#  I’m in pain. That’s the only way I get your attention

![“I’m in pain. That’s the only way I get your attention” quote by Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/suzanne-collins-60_attention_i-m-in-pain-that-s-the-only-way-i-get-yo_1450178.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/suzanne-collins-60_attention_i-m-in-pain-that-s-the-only-way-i-get-yo_1450178.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/suzanne-collins-60_attention_i-m-in-pain-that-s-the-only-way-i-get-yo_1450178.jpg)

> “I’m in pain. That’s the only way I get your attention”

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

## About This Quote

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

Pain is the only way to truly capture someone’s focus and concern.

**In simple terms:** Pain forces attention.

Key Takeaway

Use pain responsibly to communicate needs.

Themes

communication attention pain relationships boundaries

Mood

urgent thoughtful

Type

cautionary motivational

When to use this quote

- conflict resolution
- personal boundaries
- health advocacy

Key Concepts

psychological impact assertiveness emotional expression

Questions to Reflect On

- When is pain a valid signal?
- How can you convey urgency without causing harm?

A Different Perspective

Pain can cause harm and may not always be effective.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-way-1062741/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-attention-2201531/)

## Related quotes

> [I've got way more attention than I ever needed or wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nurse/i-ve-got-way-more-attention-than-i-ever-needed-or-wanted/)

[Nick Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nurse/)

> [The way I see it, any attention I get, for whatever reason, just draws more eyes to the causes that I believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-bronfman/the-way-i-see-it-any-attention-i-get-for-whatever-reason-just-draws/)

[Hannah Bronfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-bronfman/)

> [Sometimes The Easiest And The Best Way To Get Someone's Attention Is To Stop Giving Them Yours...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/sometimes-the-easiest-and-the-best-way-to-get-someone-s-attention-is/)

[Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/)

> [“It doesn’t matter to them that we didn’t ask to be the way we are; that some of us were born this way and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melyssa-winchester/it-doesn-t-matter-to-them-that-we-didn-t-ask-to-be-the-way-we-are/)

[Melyssa Winchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melyssa-winchester/)

> [Simple truth: Sometimes the best way, to get the attention of others, is to stop giving them yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda/simple-truth-sometimes-the-best-way-to-get-the-attention-of-others-is/)

[Amanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda/)

> [The quickest way to get someone's attention is to no longer want it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-quickest-way-to-get-someone-s-attention-is-to-no-longer-want-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When I dress in a certain way and do my hair and makeup in a certain way, it's not to get attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-beckham/when-i-dress-in-a-certain-way-and-do-my-hair-and-makeup-in-a-certain/)

[Victoria Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-beckham/)

> [Sometimes the best way to get someone's attention is to stop giving them yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-the-best-way-to-get-someone-s-attention-is-to-stop-giving/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Sometimes life gives you nothing but pain because that's the only way to shape and lead you to a happy ending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/sometimes-life-gives-you-nothing-but-pain-because-that-s-the-only-way/)

[Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/)

> [“The way we grow up as Natives is that we take that pain and weave it into our lives. We welcome the pain in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-maurer/the-way-we-grow-up-as-natives-is-that-we-take-that-pain-and-weave-it/)

[Daniel D. Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-maurer/)

> [“Through me the way into the suffering city, Through me the way into eternal pain, Through me the way that runs among the lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/through-me-the-way-into-the-suffering-city-through-me-the-way-into/)

[Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/)

> [pain has a way of clipping our wings and keeping us from being able to fly, and if left unresolved you can almost forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pain-has-a-way-of-clipping-our-wings-and-keeping-us-from-being-able/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When we have emotional pain in our lives, we are going to seek to relieve that pain in some way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/when-we-have-emotional-pain-in-our-lives-we-are-going-to-seek-to/)

[Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/)

> [“This is who I am. This is who I have always been. I am in pain. I am always in pain. But I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/this-is-who-i-am-this-is-who-i-have-always-been-i-am-in-pain-i-am/)

[Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/)

> [I can see his pain, see it in the way he runs his fingers through his hair, over and over, and I understand what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/i-can-see-his-pain-see-it-in-the-way-he-runs-his-fingers-through-his/)

[Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/)

## More by Suzanne Collins

> [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [A furious Peeta hammers Haymitch with the atrocity he could become party to, but I can feel Haymitch watching me. This is the moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/a-furious-peeta-hammers-haymitch-with-the-atrocity-he-could-become/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [“The same goes for the other captured tributes, Johanna and Enobaria.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-same-goes-for-the-other-captured-tributes-johanna-and-enobaria/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-never-lets-go-of-annie-s-hand-not-when-they-walk-not-when-they-eat/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [“I want to interrupt the taping and beg Finnick’s forgiveness for every false thought I’ve ever had about him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-want-to-interrupt-the-taping-and-beg-finnick-s-forgiveness-for/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [I pound on the glass, screaming my head off. Everyone ignores me except for some Capitol attendant who appears behind me and offers me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-pound-on-the-glass-screaming-my-head-off-everyone-ignores-me-except/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [Because it doesn't matter anymore, and because I'm so desperately lonely I can't stand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/because-it-doesn-t-matter-anymore-and-because-i-m-so-desperately/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [Then I dive into my tent before I do something stupid like cry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-i-dive-into-my-tent-before-i-do-something-stupid-like-cry/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [“¡Es que no quiero que me conozcan! ¡Ya me están quitando el futuro! ¡No pueden llevarse también lo que me importaba en el pasado!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/es-que-no-quiero-que-me-conozcan-ya-me-est-n-quitando-el-futuro-no/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [“I act delighted, but I have zero interest in these Capitol people. They are only distractions from the food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-act-delighted-but-i-have-zero-interest-in-these-capitol-people-they/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [Mostly we just add to the piles of rainbow glass that's been blown off the exteriors of the cany-colored buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/mostly-we-just-add-to-the-piles-of-rainbow-glass-that-s-been-blown/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [You're punishing him over and over for things that are out of his control. Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't have a fully loaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/you-re-punishing-him-over-and-over-for-things-that-are-out-of-his/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [“But the significant difference between Thirteen and the Capitol are the expectations of the populace. Thirteen was used to hardship, wheras in the Capitol,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/but-the-significant-difference-between-thirteen-and-the-capitol-are/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

[Explore all 1,709 Suzanne Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

## 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": "I’m in pain. That’s the only way I get your attention",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Suzanne Collins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-m-in-pain-that-s-the-only-way-i-get-your-attention/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attention"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-m-in-pain-that-s-the-only-way-i-get-your-attention/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/suzanne-collins-60_attention_i-m-in-pain-that-s-the-only-way-i-get-yo_1450178.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/suzanne-collins-60_attention_i-m-in-pain-that-s-the-only-way-i-get-yo_1450178.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/suzanne-collins-60_attention_i-m-in-pain-that-s-the-only-way-i-get-yo_1450178.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I’m in pain. That’s the only way I get your attention” — Suzanne Collins",
                "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": "Suzanne Collins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I’m in pain. That’s the only...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-m-in-pain-that-s-the-only-way-i-get-your-attention/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-m-in-pain-that-s-the-only-way-i-get-your-attention/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
