---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really try to ask myself the question…"
description: "\"I really try to ask myself the question of nine. Will this matter in nine minutes, nine hours, nine days, nine weeks, nine months or nine years? If it ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/whitney-wolfe-herd-2513_attention_i-really-try-to-ask-myself-the-question_1594207.jpg"
---

#  I really try to ask myself the question of nine. Will this…

![“I really try to ask myself the question of nine. Will this matter in nine minutes, nine hours, nine days, nine weeks, nine months or nine years? If it will truly matter for all of those, pay attention to it.” quote by Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/whitney-wolfe-herd-2513_attention_i-really-try-to-ask-myself-the-question_1594207.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/whitney-wolfe-herd-2513_attention_i-really-try-to-ask-myself-the-question_1594207.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/whitney-wolfe-herd-2513_attention_i-really-try-to-ask-myself-the-question_1594207.jpg)

> “I really try to ask myself the question of nine. Will this matter in nine minutes, nine hours, nine days, nine weeks, nine months or nine years? If it will truly matter for all of those, pay attention to it.”

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

## About This Quote

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

Consider the long-term significance of a decision before acting; focus on matters that matter across time.

**In simple terms:** Ask if it matters now and later.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize lasting impact.

Themes

decision making time perspective focus

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

advisory philosophical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- product development
- personal goals
- investment decisions

Key Concepts

strategic thinking future orientation

Questions to Reflect On

- What decisions have you delayed because they seemed insignificant now?
- How can you balance short‑term needs with long‑term impact?

A Different Perspective

May overlook immediate opportunities for long‑term focus.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Matter Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-minutes-241273/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Nine months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nine-months/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Pay attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-attention/) [Question Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-matter-962864/) [Truly Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly-matter-307580/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weeks/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/)

## Related quotes

> [Funny how things can change within the matter of minutes..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-goldberg/funny-how-things-can-change-within-the-matter-of-minutes/)

[Jenna Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-goldberg/)

> [But the question is a matter of the survival and the teaching. That's what our work comes down to. No matter where we key…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/but-the-question-is-a-matter-of-the-survival-and-the-teaching-that-s/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [“You’re not listening to any of this, are you?” As far as she was concerned, it was really a rhetorical question. Rather than answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-ferrarella/you-re-not-listening-to-any-of-this-are-you-as-far-as-she-was/)

[Marie Ferrarella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-ferrarella/)

> [“Ask yourself this question: will this matter a year from now?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/ask-yourself-this-question-will-this-matter-a-year-from-now/)

[Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/)

> [I did nine months in 'Mrs. Klein' in New York, then four months on the road. Then I did a movie directed by Philip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-robins/i-did-nine-months-in-mrs-klein-in-new-york-then-four-months-on-the/)

[Laila Robins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-robins/)

> [“You also realize that all the things that truly matter — beauty, love, creativity, joy, inner peace — arise from beyond the mind. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/you-also-realize-that-all-the-things-that-truly-matter-beauty-love/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [All the things that truly matter beauty, love, creativity, joy, inner peace arise from beyond the mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/all-the-things-that-truly-matter-beauty-love-creativity-joy-inner/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [“I’m not saying it will always be easy because we are human. Two people in love will always have uphill battles but it’s how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-vance-perez/i-m-not-saying-it-will-always-be-easy-because-we-are-human-two-people/)

[Kathryn Vance-Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-vance-perez/)

> [Second most important question in life...What are the only two things that truly matter? Love & Passion. Most important question of all...What will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/second-most-important-question-in-life-what-are-the-only-two-things/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Examine your life and your time, which is excessively delicate; Spend them on what truly matter to you most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/examine-your-life-and-your-time-which-is-excessively-delicate-spend/)

[Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/)

> [“Take all those things that would propose to be important, and weigh them upon the scale of your soul. Asking how much each thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-browning/take-all-those-things-that-would-propose-to-be-important-and-weigh/)

[L.M. Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-browning/)

> [Power and money are not what truly matter, qualities of heart matter more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananya-birla/power-and-money-are-not-what-truly-matter-qualities-of-heart-matter/)

[Ananya Birla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananya-birla/)

> [Of all the things that matter, that really and truly matter, working more efficiently and getting more done, is not one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dooley/of-all-the-things-that-matter-that-really-and-truly-matter-working/)

[Mike Dooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dooley/)

> [The people who truly matter, will make an effort to be in your life. Those who don't, will fade away like colours in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-people-who-truly-matter-will-make-an-effort-to-be-in-your-life/)

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

> [Theàpeople who truly matter, will make an effort to be in your life. Those who don't, will fade away like colours in the sun.à](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/theapeople-who-truly-matter-will-make-an-effort-to-be-in-your-life/)

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

## More by Whitney Wolfe Herd

> [I believe in taking people away from their desks and making them feel collaborative and inspire one another instead of being siloed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/i-believe-in-taking-people-away-from-their-desks-and-making-them-feel/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [Misogyny is not something that you want to be a part of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/misogyny-is-not-something-that-you-want-to-be-a-part-of/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [I've run into women who can be highly problematic, detrimental, and mean, just like I've seen that in men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/i-ve-run-into-women-who-can-be-highly-problematic-detrimental-and/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [I actually don't think about Tinder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/i-actually-don-t-think-about-tinder/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [The women at all levels of the entertainment industry - from interns to Oscar winners - who kept quiet to protect their careers should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/the-women-at-all-levels-of-the-entertainment-industry-from-interns-to/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [If I outline Prince Charming, I could end up with someone with no chemistry. I don't believe in trying to calculate one type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/if-i-outline-prince-charming-i-could-end-up-with-someone-with-no/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [Hate speech, racism, and bigotry are intolerable realities that we must all come together to take action against.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/hate-speech-racism-and-bigotry-are-intolerable-realities-that-we-must/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [I think that a big shame of how women are approached in business is they're oftentimes looked to for perspective and not implementation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/i-think-that-a-big-shame-of-how-women-are-approached-in-business-is/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [Our users have a relationship with our brand and are demanding more and more Bumble content, and we're committed to delivering that content with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/our-users-have-a-relationship-with-our-brand-and-are-demanding-more/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [I'm a pretty private person. I live in Texas, and I like my small network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/i-m-a-pretty-private-person-i-live-in-texas-and-i-like-my-small/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [I know in the business world, some women won't speak if there are men in meetings for fear of being seen as too assertive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/i-know-in-the-business-world-some-women-won-t-speak-if-there-are-men/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [Life's so much based on instincts and quick decisions, and people don't know what they're looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/life-s-so-much-based-on-instincts-and-quick-decisions-and-people-don/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [When you can look at failure and say, 'What is the worst case scenario,' it's not as bad as it seems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/when-you-can-look-at-failure-and-say-what-is-the-worst-case-scenario/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [I'm obsessed with Topo Chico.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/i-m-obsessed-with-topo-chico/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [I am a firm believer that the only person who can make you feel inferior is yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/i-am-a-firm-believer-that-the-only-person-who-can-make-you-feel/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

[Explore all 163 Whitney Wolfe Herd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

## 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 really try to ask myself the question of nine. Will this matter in nine minutes, nine hours, nine days, nine weeks, nine months or nine years? If it will truly matter for all of those, pay attention to it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Whitney Wolfe Herd"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/i-really-try-to-ask-myself-the-question-of-nine-will-this-matter-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attention"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/i-really-try-to-ask-myself-the-question-of-nine-will-this-matter-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/whitney-wolfe-herd-2513_attention_i-really-try-to-ask-myself-the-question_1594207.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/whitney-wolfe-herd-2513_attention_i-really-try-to-ask-myself-the-question_1594207.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/whitney-wolfe-herd-2513_attention_i-really-try-to-ask-myself-the-question_1594207.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I really try to ask myself the question of nine. Will this matter in nine minutes, nine hours, nine days…” — Whitney Wolfe Herd",
                "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": "Whitney Wolfe Herd",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I really try to ask myself...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/i-really-try-to-ask-myself-the-question-of-nine-will-this-matter-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/i-really-try-to-ask-myself-the-question-of-nine-will-this-matter-in/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```