# Quotes about attention - Quotes: 39 - Authors: 29 - Broader topic: [Quotes about thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.json ## Quotes > He caught glimpses of everything, but saw nothing. [Victor Hugo](https://www.leafyquotes.com/victor-hugo.md) · [Les Miserables](https://www.leafyquotes.com/victor-hugo/les-miserables.md) · p. 355 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/victor-hugo/les-miserables/he-caught-glimpses.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > If you can see, look. If you can look, observe. [José Saramago](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jose-saramago.md) · [Blindness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jose-saramago/blindness.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jose-saramago/blindness/if-you-can.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > You don’t have to understand what you see but you must at least make an effort to see what you see. [Daniel Quinn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn.md) · [The Story of B](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn/the-story-of-b.md) · p. 164 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn/the-story-of-b/you-dont-have.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > Then M’Dear Sophie always said, “Find meaning where you’re put, Vee.” So she exhaled deeply and tried to relax and stick it out and pay attention.” [Toni Cade Bambara](https://www.leafyquotes.com/toni-cade-bambara.md) · [The Salt Eaters](https://www.leafyquotes.com/toni-cade-bambara/the-salt-eaters.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/toni-cade-bambara/the-salt-eaters/then-mdear-sophie.md) Topics: [meaning of life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/meaning-of-life.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > Paying attention acknowledges that we have something to learn from intelligences other than our own. Listening, standing witness, creates an openness to the world in which the boundaries between us can dissolve in a raindrop. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 300 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/paying-attention-acknowledges.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > The earth is so richly endowed that the least we can do in return is to pay attention. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 217 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/the-earth-is-so-richly.md) Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > The land is the real teacher. All we need as students is mindfulness. Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world, receiving the gifts with open eyes and open heart. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 222 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/the-land-is-the.md) Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > "Writing is a way of paying attention to life." [Ben Okri](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-okri.md) · [The Age of Magic](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-okri/the-age-of-magic.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-okri/the-age-of-magic/writing-is-a-way.md) Topics: [writing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/writing.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > Your attention is one of the most valuable things you possess, which is why everyone wants to steal it from you. First you must protect it, and then you must point it in the right direction. [...] What you choose to pay attention to is the stuff your life and work will be made of. [Austin Kleon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-kleon.md) · [Keep Going](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-kleon/keep-going.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-kleon/keep-going/your-attention-is-one.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > “Jesus, Berry, you shouldn’t oughta watch TV, not unless you’re gonna pay it attention.” [William Gibson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-gibson.md) · [Virtual Light](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-gibson/virtual-light.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-gibson/virtual-light/jesus-berry-you.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md), [television](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/television.md) > It helps to have a focus for your attention, an anchor line to tether you to the present moment and to guide you back when the mind wanders. The breath serves this purpose exceedingly well. It can be a true ally. Bringing awareness to our breathing, we remind ourselves that we are here now, so we might as well be fully awake for whatever is already happening. [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jon-kabat-zinn.md) · [Wherever You Go, There You Are](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jon-kabat-zinn/wherever-you-go-there-you-are.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jon-kabat-zinn/wherever-you-go-there-you-are/it-helps-to-have.md) Topics: [the present moment](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-present-moment.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md), [meditation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/meditation.md) > The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing. [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jon-kabat-zinn.md) · [Wherever You Go, There You Are](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jon-kabat-zinn/wherever-you-go-there-you-are.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jon-kabat-zinn/wherever-you-go-there-you-are/the-best-way.md) Topics: [the present moment](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-present-moment.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md), [meditation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/meditation.md) > If you run everywhere you miss stuff that you might have been better off noticing—just saying. [Ben Aaronovitch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch.md) · [What Abigail Did That Summer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/what-abigail-did-that-summer.md) · p. 20 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/what-abigail-did-that-summer/if-you-run.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md), [haste](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/haste.md) > The Daily Mail had the scoop but the media had caught the smell of blood in the water and twenty-four-hour news outlets were running the bulletin every half an hour, with a teaser on the quarter in case your attention span was that short. [Ben Aaronovitch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch.md) · [Foxglove Summer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/foxglove-summer.md) · p. 251 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/foxglove-summer/the-daily-mail.md) Topics: [media](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/media.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > In a rainstorm, everyone quickly runs down the street with umbrellas, raincoats, newspapers over their heads. Writers go back outside in the rain with a notebook in front of them and a pen in hand. They look at the puddles, watch them fill, watch the rain splash in them. [Natalie Goldberg](https://www.leafyquotes.com/natalie-goldberg.md) · [Writing Down the Bones](https://www.leafyquotes.com/natalie-goldberg/writing-down-the-bones.md) · p. 53 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/natalie-goldberg/writing-down-the-bones/in-a-rainstorm.md) Topics: [writing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/writing.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > As writers we have to walk in the world in touch with that present, alert part of ourselves, that animal sense part that looks, sees, and notices - street signs, corners, fire hydrants, newspaper stands. [Natalie Goldberg](https://www.leafyquotes.com/natalie-goldberg.md) · [Writing Down the Bones](https://www.leafyquotes.com/natalie-goldberg/writing-down-the-bones.md) · p. 91 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/natalie-goldberg/writing-down-the-bones/as-writers-we-have.md) Topics: [writing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/writing.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > We have two essential strategies for coping: the way of avoidance or the way of attention. [Marilyn Ferguson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marilyn-ferguson.md) · [The Aquarian Conspiracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marilyn-ferguson/the-aquarian-conspiracy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marilyn-ferguson/the-aquarian-conspiracy/we-have-two.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > Recollection, the art which the practical man is now invited to learn, is in essence no more and no less than the subjection of the attention to the control of the will. [Evelyn Underhill](https://www.leafyquotes.com/evelyn-underhill.md) · [Practical Mysticism: A Little Book for Normal People and Abba: Meditations Based on the Lord's Prayer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/evelyn-underhill/practical-mysticism-a-little-book-for-normal-people-and-abba-meditations-based-on-the-lords-prayer.md) · p. 69 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/evelyn-underhill/practical-mysticism-a-little-book-for-normal-people-and-abba-meditations-based-on-the-lords-prayer/recollection-the-art.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > Intelligence is not only the ability to reason; it is also the ability to find relevant material in memory and to deploy attention when needed. [Daniel Kahneman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-kahneman.md) · [Thinking, Fast and Slow](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-kahneman/thinking-fast-and-slow.md) · p. 46 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-kahneman/thinking-fast-and-slow/intelligence-is-not.md) Topics: [memory](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/memory.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > A rare event will be overweighted if it specifically attracts attention. [...] And when there is no overweighting, there will be neglect. [Daniel Kahneman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-kahneman.md) · [Thinking, Fast and Slow](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-kahneman/thinking-fast-and-slow.md) · p. 333 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-kahneman/thinking-fast-and-slow/a-rare-event.md) Topics: [risk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/risk.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > Information wants to be free—remember that old saw? Some truth to it, only it’s backwards. This isn’t an information economy—we’re drowning in that—it’s an attention economy. That’s what everybody’s vying for. [Gregory Benford](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford.md) · [Cosm](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/cosm.md) · p. 167 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/cosm/information-wants-to-be-free-remember.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md), [information](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/information.md) > The ego thrives on others' attention, which is after all a form of psychic energy. The ego doesn't know that the source of all energy is within you, so it seeks... attention in some form, such as recognition, praise, admiration, or just to be noticed in some way, to have its existence acknowledged. [Eckhart Tolle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle.md) · [A New Earth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/a-new-earth.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/a-new-earth/the-ego-thrives.md) Topics: [ego](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ego.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > Some egos... If they cannot get positive attention, they may seek negative attention instead, for example, by provoking a negative reaction in someone else. [Eckhart Tolle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle.md) · [A New Earth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/a-new-earth.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/a-new-earth/some-egos-if-they.md) Topics: [ego](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ego.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > Friday nodded and took a deep breath. “Has anyone noticed how short attention spans seem to have cast a certain latitude across the nation?” > > “Do I ever,” I replied, rolling my eyes and thinking of the endlessly downward clicking of the Read-O-Meter. “No one’s reading books anymore. They seem to prefer the mind numbing spectacle of easily digested trash TV and celebrity tittle-tattle.” > > “Exactly,” said Friday. “The long view has been eroded. We can’t see beyond six months, if that, and short-termism will spell our end.” [Jasper Fforde](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde.md) · [First Among Sequels](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/first-among-sequels.md) · p. 264 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/first-among-sequels/friday-nodded-and.md) Topics: [reading](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reading.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > This is why I loved the support groups so much, if people thought you were dying, they gave you their full attention. > > If this might be the last time they saw you, they really saw you. Everything else about their checkbook balance and radio songs and messy hair went out the window. > > You had their full attention. > > People listened instead of just waiting for their turn to speak. > > And when they spoke, they weren't telling you a story. When the two of you talked, you were building something, and afterward you were both different than before. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Fight Club](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/fight-club.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/fight-club/this-is-why.md) Topics: [conversation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conversation.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > So if you check your texts often while trying to work, you aren’t only losing the little bursts of time you spend looking at the texts– you are also losing the time it takes to refocus afterwards, which can be much longer. [Johann Hari](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-hari.md) · [Stolen Focus](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-hari/stolen-focus.md) · p. 36 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-hari/stolen-focus/so-if-you.md) Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > The best way to learn was by looking, to become articulate in the language of sight. The eye could learn to look after itself. (p. 180). [Geoff Dyer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/geoff-dyer.md) · [Yoga for People Who Can't Be Bothered to Do It](https://www.leafyquotes.com/geoff-dyer/yoga-for-people-who-cant-be-bothered-to-do-it.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/geoff-dyer/yoga-for-people-who-cant-be-bothered-to-do-it/the-best-way.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this crisis in paying attention has taken place at the same time as the worst crisis of democracy since the 1930s. People who can’t focus will be more drawn to simplistic authoritarian solutions– and less likely to see clearly when they fail. [Johann Hari](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-hari.md) · [Stolen Focus](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-hari/stolen-focus.md) · p. 12 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-hari/stolen-focus/i-dont-think.md) Topics: [democracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/democracy.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > There’s one key fact, he said, that every human being needs to understand– and everything else he was going to explain flows from that. ‘Your brain can only produce one or two thoughts’ in your conscious mind at once. That’s it. ‘We’re very, very single- minded.’ [Johann Hari](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-hari.md) · [Stolen Focus](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-hari/stolen-focus.md) · p. 34 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-hari/stolen-focus/theres-one-key.md) Topics: [thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > Attention is love, what we must give > > children, mothers, fathers, pets, > > our friends, the news, the woes of others. > > What we want to change we curse and then > > pick up a tool. Bless whatever you can > > with eyes and hands and tongue. If you > > can't bless it, get ready to make it new. [Marge Piercy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marge-piercy.md) · [The Art of Blessing the Day](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marge-piercy/the-art-of-blessing-the-day.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marge-piercy/the-art-of-blessing-the-day/attention-is-love.md) Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > The only factor becoming scarce in a world of abudance is human attention. [Kevin Kelly](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kevin-kelly.md) · [New Rules for the New Economy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kevin-kelly/new-rules-for-the-new-economy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kevin-kelly/new-rules-for-the-new-economy/the-only-factor.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md), [information](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/information.md) > And now I want to tell you about my late Uncle Alex. He was my father's kid brother, a childless graduate of Harvard who was an honest life insurance salesman in Indianapolis. He was well-read and wise. And his principal complaint about other human beings was that they so seldom noticed it when they were happy. So when we were drinking lemonade under an apple tree in the summer, say, and talking lazily about this and that, almost buzzing like honeybees, Uncle Alex would suddenly interrupt the agreeable blather to exclaim, If this isn't nice, I don't know what is. So I do the same now, and so do my kids and grandkids. And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, If this isn't nice, I don't know what is. [Kurt Vonnegut](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kurt-vonnegut.md) · [A Man Without a Country](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kurt-vonnegut/a-man-without-a-country.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kurt-vonnegut/a-man-without-a-country/and-now-i-want.md) Topics: [happiness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/happiness.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > Intelligence consists in ignoring things that are irrelevant. [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb.md) · [The Bed of Procrustes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb/the-bed-of-procrustes.md) · p. 78 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb/the-bed-of-procrustes/intelligence-consists-in-ignoring.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > The Miracles of the Church seem to me to rest not so much upon faces or voices or healing power coming suddenly near to us from afar off, but upon our perceptions being made finer, so that for a moment our eyes can see and our ears can hear what is there about us always. [Willa Cather](https://www.leafyquotes.com/willa-cather.md) · [Death Comes for the Archbishop](https://www.leafyquotes.com/willa-cather/death-comes-for-the-archbishop.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/willa-cather/death-comes-for-the-archbishop/the-miracles-of-the.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md), [miracles](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/miracles.md) > I keep my mind on it. That's the whole trick, in so far as stage experience goes; keeping right there every second. If I think of anything else for a flash, I'm gone, done for. But at the same time, one can take things in — with another part of your brain, maybe. It's different from what you get in study, more practical and conclusive. There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm. You learn the delivery of a part only before an audience. [Willa Cather](https://www.leafyquotes.com/willa-cather.md) · [The Song Of The Lark](https://www.leafyquotes.com/willa-cather/the-song-of-the-lark.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/willa-cather/the-song-of-the-lark/i-keep-my-mind.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > It is of the highest importance in the art of detection to be able to recognize, out of a number of facts, which are incidental and which vital. Otherwise your energy and attention must be dissipated instead of being concentrated. [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle.md) · [The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-memoirs-of-sherlock-holmes.md) · p. 407 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-memoirs-of-sherlock-holmes/it-is-of-the.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > Exhibitionism is like a drug. Hooked in adolescence I was now taking doses so massive they would have killed a novice. [Quentin Crisp](https://www.leafyquotes.com/quentin-crisp.md) · [The Naked Civil Servant](https://www.leafyquotes.com/quentin-crisp/the-naked-civil-servant.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/quentin-crisp/the-naked-civil-servant/exhibitionism-is-like.md) Topics: [youth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/youth.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > I go to houses where the master and mistress do the honours together. They are equally well educated, equally polite, equally well equipped with wit and good taste, both of them are inspired with the same desire to give their guests a good reception and to send every one away satisfied. The husband omits no pains to be attentive to every one; he comes and goes and sees to every one and takes all sorts of trouble; he is attention itself. The wife remains in her place; a little circle gathers round her and apparently conceals the rest of the company from her; yet she sees everything that goes on, no one goes without a word with her; she has omitted nothing which might interest anybody, she has said nothing unpleasant to any one, and without any fuss the least is no more overlooked than the greatest. Dinner is announced, they take their places; the man knowing the assembled guests will place them according to his knowledge; the wife, without previous acquaintance, never makes a mistake; their looks and bearing have already shown her what is wanted and every one will find himself where he wishes to be. I do not assert that the servants forget no one. The master of the house may have omitted no one, but the mistress perceives what you like and sees that you get it; while she is talking to her neighbour she has one eye on the other end of the table; she sees who is not eating because he is not hungry and who is afraid to help himself because he is clumsy and timid. When the guests leave the table every one thinks she has had no thought but for him, everybody thinks she has had no time to eat anything, but she has really eaten more than anybody. When the guests are gone, husband and wife tails over the events of the evening. He relates what was said to him, what was said and done by those with whom he conversed. If the lady is not always quite exact in this respect, yet on the other hand she perceived what was whispered at the other end of the room; she knows what so-and-so thought, and what was the meaning of this speech or that gesture; there is scarcely a change of expression for which she has not an explanation in readiness, and she is almost always right. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/i-go-to-houses.md) Topics: [women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/women.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > This looking and not seeing things was a great sin, I thought, and one that was easy to fall into. It was always the beginning of something bad and I thought that we did not deserve to live in the world if we did not see it. [Ernest Hemingway](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ernest-hemingway.md) · [True At First Light](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ernest-hemingway/true-at-first-light.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ernest-hemingway/true-at-first-light/this-looking-and.md) Topics: [sin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/sin.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md)