--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't want that to be the headline." description: "\"I don't want that to be the headline.\" — Terrell Owens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/terrell-owens-4743_headline_i-don-t-want-that-to-be-the-headline-230_2306564.png" --- # I don't want that to be the headline. ![“I don't want that to be the headline.” quote by Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/terrell-owens-4743_headline_i-don-t-want-that-to-be-the-headline-230_2306564.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/terrell-owens-4743_headline_i-don-t-want-that-to-be-the-headline-230_2306564.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/terrell-owens-4743_headline_i-don-t-want-that-to-be-the-headline-230_2306564.png) > “I don't want that to be the headline.” [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker wants to avoid a sensational headline that misrepresents the situation. **In simple terms:** He prefers not to be defined by a single, possibly misleading, story. Key Takeaway Seek accurate representation over sensationalism. Themes media image personal reputation Mood defensive thoughtful Type reflective protective When to use this quote - press interviews - social media - personal statements Key Concepts public perception headline culture privacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance truth and attention? - What narrative do you want to shape? A Different Perspective Headlines can oversimplify complex realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Don Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-want/) [Headline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/headline/) [Headlines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/headlines/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Headline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-headline-1608455/) ## Related quotes > [People take things too personally - I don't. If someone says something about me, I let it go. But unfortunately, everyone isn't like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-kapoor/people-take-things-too-personally-i-don-t-if-someone-says-something/) [Sonam Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-kapoor/) > [We all want the headline and when you feel confident you just want to grab that headline and make it your own, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/we-all-want-the-headline-and-when-you-feel-confident-you-just-want-to/) [Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/) > [I don't want a headline saying 'Kennedy suggests this or implies that.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/i-don-t-want-a-headline-saying-kennedy-suggests-this-or-implies-that/) [Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/) > [I don't have a hip-hop goal but I want to headline Bonnaroo one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldlink/i-don-t-have-a-hip-hop-goal-but-i-want-to-headline-bonnaroo-one-day/) [Goldlink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldlink/) > [A good quotation must be a complete entity. It must be like a headline - sharp, clear, whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-good-quotation-must-be-a-complete-entity-it-must-be-like-a-headline/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Exposed! shines a harsh light on the myriad horrors of modern society and reports back from the fearful frontlines with wicked wit and paranoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-robert-johnson/exposed-shines-a-harsh-light-on-the-myriad-horrors-of-modern-society/) [Jeremy Robert Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-robert-johnson/) > [I don't need a sensationalized headline to sell music or to bring attention to my music. It's the music and it's always been about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-boi/i-don-t-need-a-sensationalized-headline-to-sell-music-or-to-bring/) [Big Boi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-boi/) > [Headlines, in a way, are what mislead you because bad news is a headline, and gradual improvement is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/headlines-in-a-way-are-what-mislead-you-because-bad-news-is-a/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The headline is the most important element in most advertisements. It is the telegram which decides the reader whether to read the copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/the-headline-is-the-most-important-element-in-most-advertisements-it/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [Based on hundreds of tests conducted, a good headline can be as much as 17 times more effective than a so-so headline. And this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nicholas/based-on-hundreds-of-tests-conducted-a-good-headline-can-be-as-much/) [Ted Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nicholas/) > [You are reading a bold and universal headline which says ,’I am here, I am here, I am here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-are-reading-a-bold-and-universal-headline-which-says-i-am-here-i/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [If the headline is a good one, it is a relatively simple matter to write the copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-caples/if-the-headline-is-a-good-one-it-is-a-relatively-simple-matter-to/) [John Caples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-caples/) > [A long headline that really says something is more effective than a brief heading that says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-caples/a-long-headline-that-really-says-something-is-more-effective-than-a/) [John Caples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-caples/) > [ When this is over, the media will lose interest \[in the relationship\]. There’ll be nothing to say. It won’t fit into a headline anymore.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/when-this-is-over-the-media-will-lose-interest-in-the-relationship/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [I also like to use a sensational headline. Many people read blogs in aggregators, which generally show only the headline. So you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-wilson/i-also-like-to-use-a-sensational-headline-many-people-read-blogs-in/) [Fred Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-wilson/) ## More by Terrell Owens > [Right is right and wrong is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/right-is-right-and-wrong-is-wrong/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [I've never really thought of myself as having an ego. I've always found myself as having a lot of confidence. I know I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-ve-never-really-thought-of-myself-as-having-an-ego-i-ve-always/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [As you get to know me, you kind of figure me out, that I'm not as probably as bad of a guy that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/as-you-get-to-know-me-you-kind-of-figure-me-out-that-i-m-not-as/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [Jerry (Rice) played until he was 42. At 39, I ran a 4.43 40-yard dash. You look at the number of dropped balls and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/jerry-rice-played-until-he-was-42-at-39-i-ran-a-4-43-40-yard-dash-you/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [I may be a public figure, but really, I'm just like a guy who could be in your family and have some difficult things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-may-be-a-public-figure-but-really-i-m-just-like-a-guy-who-could-be/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [But I know in my heart what I'm doing is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/but-i-know-in-my-heart-what-i-m-doing-is-right/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [I feel like it was a little disrespectful but you know what I feel like, I have been successful, blessed and I keep my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-feel-like-it-was-a-little-disrespectful-but-you-know-what-i-feel/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [I left a lot - a lot - of touchdowns on the field throughout the last two or three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-left-a-lot-a-lot-of-touchdowns-on-the-field-throughout-the-last-two/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [A lot of people expect to see the same type of character that they see on the field off the field, and that throws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/a-lot-of-people-expect-to-see-the-same-type-of-character-that-they/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [It doesn't matter what any of my teammates have said about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/it-doesn-t-matter-what-any-of-my-teammates-have-said-about-me/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [All that matters to me now is my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/all-that-matters-to-me-now-is-my-family/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [When I step on the field, you know what you gonna get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/when-i-step-on-the-field-you-know-what-you-gonna-get/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [Like my boy tells me; if it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it is a rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/like-my-boy-tells-me-if-it-looks-like-a-rat-and-smells-like-a-rat-by/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [I don't have no friends. I don't want no friends. That's how I feel,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-don-t-have-no-friends-i-don-t-want-no-friends-that-s-how-i-feel/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [I don't have to play for the Eagles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-don-t-have-to-play-for-the-eagles/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) [Explore all 107 Terrell Owens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) ## More Headline quotes > [I also like to use a sensational headline. Many people read blogs in aggregators, which generally show only the headline. So you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-wilson/i-also-like-to-use-a-sensational-headline-many-people-read-blogs-in/) [Fred Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-wilson/) > [ When this is over, the media will lose interest \[in the relationship\]. There’ll be nothing to say. It won’t fit into a headline anymore.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/when-this-is-over-the-media-will-lose-interest-in-the-relationship/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [A long headline that really says something is more effective than a brief heading that says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-caples/a-long-headline-that-really-says-something-is-more-effective-than-a/) [John Caples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-caples/) > [If the headline is a good one, it is a relatively simple matter to write the copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-caples/if-the-headline-is-a-good-one-it-is-a-relatively-simple-matter-to/) [John Caples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-caples/) > [“Digest-digests, digest-digest-digests. Politics? One column, two sentences, a headline!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/digest-digests-digest-digest-digests-politics-one-column-two/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [You are reading a bold and universal headline which says ,’I am here, I am here, I am here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-are-reading-a-bold-and-universal-headline-which-says-i-am-here-i/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Based on hundreds of tests conducted, a good headline can be as much as 17 times more effective than a so-so headline. And this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nicholas/based-on-hundreds-of-tests-conducted-a-good-headline-can-be-as-much/) [Ted Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nicholas/) > [The headline is the most important element in most advertisements. It is the telegram which decides the reader whether to read the copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/the-headline-is-the-most-important-element-in-most-advertisements-it/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [Headline writing is tough because often times you are given a predetermined number of spaces and words depending on the layout and the type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/headline-writing-is-tough-because-often-times-you-are-given-a/) [Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/) > [“Her name has been released to the press. Her photograph is released, too. I want to talk to the press about it. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/her-name-has-been-released-to-the-press-her-photograph-is-released/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [Headlines, in a way, are what mislead you because bad news is a headline, and gradual improvement is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/headlines-in-a-way-are-what-mislead-you-because-bad-news-is-a/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Why don't you put that in the headline: 'He Only Did Three With Doris!' Set a lot of people straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rock-hudson/why-don-t-you-put-that-in-the-headline-he-only-did-three-with-doris/) [Rock Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rock-hudson/) > [I don't need a sensationalized headline to sell music or to bring attention to my music. It's the music and it's always been about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-boi/i-don-t-need-a-sensationalized-headline-to-sell-music-or-to-bring/) [Big Boi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-boi/) > [Exposed! shines a harsh light on the myriad horrors of modern society and reports back from the fearful frontlines with wicked wit and paranoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-robert-johnson/exposed-shines-a-harsh-light-on-the-myriad-horrors-of-modern-society/) [Jeremy Robert Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-robert-johnson/) > [A good quotation must be a complete entity. It must be like a headline - sharp, clear, whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-good-quotation-must-be-a-complete-entity-it-must-be-like-a-headline/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) [Browse all 95 Headline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/headline/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't want that to be the headline.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terrell Owens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-don-t-want-that-to-be-the-headline/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Headline" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-don-t-want-that-to-be-the-headline/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/terrell-owens-4743_headline_i-don-t-want-that-to-be-the-headline-230_2306564.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/terrell-owens-4743_headline_i-don-t-want-that-to-be-the-headline-230_2306564.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/terrell-owens-4743_headline_i-don-t-want-that-to-be-the-headline-230_2306564.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't want that to be the headline.” — Terrell Owens", "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": "Terrell Owens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't want that to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-don-t-want-that-to-be-the-headline/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-don-t-want-that-to-be-the-headline/#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 } } ] } ```