I wasn't always smart, I was actually very stupid in…
![“I wasn't always smart, I was actually very stupid in school [T]here was a boy who was very attractive who was even stupider than I was. And in order to ingratiate myself with this boy who was very beautiful, I began to do his homework for him – and that's how I became smart, I had to do all this…” quote by Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/a22/michel-foucault-1134_attractive_i-wasn-t-always-smart-i-was-actually-ver_2275625.jpg)
“I wasn't always smart, I was actually very stupid in school [T]here was a boy who was very attractive who was even stupider than I was. And in order to ingratiate myself with this boy who was very beautiful, I began to do his homework for him – and that's how I became smart, I had to do all this work to just keep ahead of him a little bit, in order to help him. In a sense, all the rest of my life I've been trying to do intellectual things that would attract beautiful boys.”
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 describes using academic effort to impress an attractive peer, turning competition into a habit of intellectual pursuit to attract beauty.
In simple terms: He worked hard to outdo a handsome boy, making study a way to win affection.
Key Takeaway
Channel effort into personal growth for intrinsic fulfillment.
Themes
self-improvement
competition
attraction
identity
intellectualism
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
personal
psychological
When to use this quote
- college life
- career development
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
social dynamics
self-worth
motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives you to seek approval through achievement?
- How can you find value beyond others’ perceptions?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on external validation may hinder authentic self-discovery.