--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We live in a time of short attention…" description: "\"We live in a time of short attention spans and long stories. The short attention spans are seen as inevitable, the consequence of living our lives in t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/tom-junod-5058_attention-span_we-live-in-a-time-of-short-attention-spa_1750984.jpg" --- # We live in a time of short attention spans and long… ![“We live in a time of short attention spans and long stories. The short attention spans are seen as inevitable, the consequence of living our lives in thrall to flickering streams of information. The long stories are the surprise, as is the persistence of the audience for them.” quote by Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/tom-junod-5058_attention-span_we-live-in-a-time-of-short-attention-spa_1750984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/tom-junod-5058_attention-span_we-live-in-a-time-of-short-attention-spa_1750984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/tom-junod-5058_attention-span_we-live-in-a-time-of-short-attention-spa_1750984.jpg) > “We live in a time of short attention spans and long stories. The short attention spans are seen as inevitable, the consequence of living our lives in thrall to flickering streams of information. The long stories are the surprise, as is the persistence of the audience for them.” [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In an era of fleeting focus, people still gravitate toward expansive narratives, showing a paradox between short attention and deep engagement. **In simple terms:** People love long stories despite short attention spans. Key Takeaway Embrace depth while respecting brevity. Themes attention media storytelling culture paradox Mood reflective curious Type analytical observational When to use this quote - Marketing campaigns - educational content - journalistic features - social media posts - public speaking Key Concepts Psychology information overload narrative desire Questions to Reflect On - How can creators balance depth with brevity? - What formats sustain audience interest in complex topics? A Different Perspective Long stories may struggle to capture audiences accustomed to rapid bites. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention span](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-span/) [Attention Spans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-spans-549688/) [Information Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information-long-1605638/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-stories-1605636/) [Persistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistence/) [Short Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-attention/) [Spans Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spans-long-1605637/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [In this fragmented world, with such short attention spans, you've got a couple of episodes to make an impression. And if you don't, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walton/in-this-fragmented-world-with-such-short-attention-spans-you-ve-got-a/) [David Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walton/) > [Do you know why language manifests itself the way it does in my work? It's because I understand short attention spans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/do-you-know-why-language-manifests-itself-the-way-it-does-in-my-work/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [I want people to be drawn into the space of the work. And a lot of people are like me in that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-want-people-to-be-drawn-into-the-space-of-the-work-and-a-lot-of/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [The problems with kids having short attention spans is driven by entertainment, reset buttons on games, games having to do with getting somewhere and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/the-problems-with-kids-having-short-attention-spans-is-driven-by/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [I'm very conscious of people having pretty short attention spans: I know, I'm guilty of it. I'm 17 now: what happens by the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/i-m-very-conscious-of-people-having-pretty-short-attention-spans-i/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [The ultimate pitch for an era of short attention spans begins with a single word - and doesn't go any further.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-ultimate-pitch-for-an-era-of-short-attention-spans-begins-with-a/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Land of snap decisions, land of short attention spans, nothing is savored long enough to really understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/land-of-snap-decisions-land-of-short-attention-spans-nothing-is/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The media, the polls and our legislatures fortunately have short attention spans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gutfreund/the-media-the-polls-and-our-legislatures-fortunately-have-short/) [John Gutfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gutfreund/) > [Our attention spans have become shorter because there are more and more claims upon them - more information, more complexity; more stories, more stuff;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/our-attention-spans-have-become-shorter-because-there-are-more-and/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [I need the information and then I can go. So, as long as I have the information and a little bit of sleep, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-need-the-information-and-then-i-can-go-so-as-long-as-i-have-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [People's attention spans, first of all, aren't always long enough. You also want to not be preachy. You want to be able to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-glover/people-s-attention-spans-first-of-all-aren-t-always-long-enough-you/) [Stephen Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-glover/) > [People's attention spans are a little shorter these days. Same thing with food and movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/people-s-attention-spans-are-a-little-shorter-these-days-same-thing/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [“Things stop being funny if you have to explain them to people, especially if they need excellent attention spans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/things-stop-being-funny-if-you-have-to-explain-them-to-people/) [Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/) > [Now, for my younger viewers out there, a book is something we used to have before the internet. It’s sort of a blog for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/now-for-my-younger-viewers-out-there-a-book-is-something-we-used-to/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [For years, particularly with the advent of the Internet, people have been griping about lessening attention spans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/for-years-particularly-with-the-advent-of-the-internet-people-have/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) ## More by Tom Junod > [Every artist can make art only from the materials at hand, and many of the child stars who try to mature into artists can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/every-artist-can-make-art-only-from-the-materials-at-hand-and-many-of/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [I wasn't learning to sing because I thought I could; I was learning to sing because I knew I couldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/i-wasn-t-learning-to-sing-because-i-thought-i-could-i-was-learning-to/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [We might accept pit bulls personally, but America still doesn't accept them institutionally, where it counts; indeed, apartment complexes and insurance companies are arrayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/we-might-accept-pit-bulls-personally-but-america-still-doesn-t-accept/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [I collect songs because I want to control what I - what everybody within earshot - listens to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/i-collect-songs-because-i-want-to-control-what-i-what-everybody/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [Any child can tell you what Google does - Google gives you the answers. But Google doesn't, not really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/any-child-can-tell-you-what-google-does-google-gives-you-the-answers/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [My mother was not a country girl. She was a Brooklyn girl, born and raised in Flatbush, and then a Long Island girl, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/my-mother-was-not-a-country-girl-she-was-a-brooklyn-girl-born-and/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [That there is as yet no drug for immortality - or, for that matter, for muscle growth in the infirm - does not mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/that-there-is-as-yet-no-drug-for-immortality-or-for-that-matter-for/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [I am not running for president, but I've always known if I ever did run for president - or local dogcatcher, for that matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/i-am-not-running-for-president-but-i-ve-always-known-if-i-ever-did/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [Josh Ozersky was a meat man. He knew meat, revered it, studied it, sang it, evangelized it, wrote about it, and, of course, ate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/josh-ozersky-was-a-meat-man-he-knew-meat-revered-it-studied-it-sang/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [I was a bully in fifth and sixth grade. I wasn't one of the bullies - I wasn't strong or dominant enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/i-was-a-bully-in-fifth-and-sixth-grade-i-wasn-t-one-of-the-bullies-i/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [I have about 25,000 songs on my computer and play them mostly on shuffle, which means that the songs I've played the most are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/i-have-about-25-000-songs-on-my-computer-and-play-them-mostly-on/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [Before the Beatles could give us 'The White Album', they had to achieve disorienting success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/before-the-beatles-could-give-us-the-white-album-they-had-to-achieve/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [Ask people who know him for a description of Bob Dylan outside the prerogatives of fame and the obligations of art, and they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/ask-people-who-know-him-for-a-description-of-bob-dylan-outside-the/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [I had heard a lot of stories about my father and celebrities, most of them from his own mouth. In his stories, famous women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/i-had-heard-a-lot-of-stories-about-my-father-and-celebrities-most-of/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [You learn a lot about America when you own a pit bull. You learn not just who likes your dog; you learn what kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/you-learn-a-lot-about-america-when-you-own-a-pit-bull-you-learn-not/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) [Explore all 103 Tom Junod quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) ## More Attention span quotes > [One of the great things about being an actor is it serves a short attention span, which is something I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-mack/one-of-the-great-things-about-being-an-actor-is-it-serves-a-short/) [Allison Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-mack/) > [“I have been so struck by the mettle of the men who founded this country and wrote the Constitution. What unbelievable persistence and integrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosanne-cash/i-have-been-so-struck-by-the-mettle-of-the-men-who-founded-this/) [Rosanne Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosanne-cash/) > [College wasn't for us. We just didn't have the attention span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-bella/college-wasn-t-for-us-we-just-didn-t-have-the-attention-span/) [Brie Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-bella/) > [I sometimes worry about my short attention span, but not for long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-caen/i-sometimes-worry-about-my-short-attention-span-but-not-for-long/) [Herb Caen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-caen/) > [It's a double-headed coin, because technology is a convenience but it's stifled our attention spans. At one time, albums had songs that were like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cee-lo-green/it-s-a-double-headed-coin-because-technology-is-a-convenience-but-it/) [Cee Lo Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cee-lo-green/) > [“Daemon had not stayed. My smile slipped from my face. He was standing by the window, his back to me. “I got bored.” “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/daemon-had-not-stayed-my-smile-slipped-from-my-face-he-was-standing/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [There will be a competition among critics for the best Paris Hilton insult. Here's my first: Her attention span is so short that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edelstein/there-will-be-a-competition-among-critics-for-the-best-paris-hilton/) [David Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edelstein/) > [Twenty20 is cricket on speed. In an era of hectic lifestyles and falling attention spans, it gives spectators more drama and intensity in three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/twenty20-is-cricket-on-speed-in-an-era-of-hectic-lifestyles-and/) [Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/) > [For years, particularly with the advent of the Internet, people have been griping about lessening attention spans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/for-years-particularly-with-the-advent-of-the-internet-people-have/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [People have an infinite attention span if you are entertaining them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/people-have-an-infinite-attention-span-if-you-are-entertaining-them/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [I didn't really want to be an actor when I was growing up - I wanted to be whatever I was reading about or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-sudeikis/i-didn-t-really-want-to-be-an-actor-when-i-was-growing-up-i-wanted-to/) [Jason Sudeikis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-sudeikis/) > [Now, for my younger viewers out there, a book is something we used to have before the internet. It’s sort of a blog for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/now-for-my-younger-viewers-out-there-a-book-is-something-we-used-to/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [“How in the world did they just jump from politics, to a ball, and now to daimon attacks? And here I’d thought I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/how-in-the-world-did-they-just-jump-from-politics-to-a-ball-and-now/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [You don’t pay attention man/that’s why your money is the size of your attention span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-dilla/you-don-t-pay-attention-man-that-s-why-your-money-is-the-size-of-your/) [J Dilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-dilla/) > [I think, first of all, you know, Washington has a bad habit of a very short attention span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-think-first-of-all-you-know-washington-has-a-bad-habit-of-a-very/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) [Browse all 298 Attention span quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-span/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We live in a time of short attention spans and long stories. The short attention spans are seen as inevitable, the consequence of living our lives in thrall to flickering streams of information. 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