--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I came of age I did not know much…" description: "\"When I came of age I did not know much. Still somehow, I could read, write, and cipher to the Rule of Three… The little advanceI now have upon this sto..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/abraham-lincoln-88_age_when-i-came-of-age-i-did-not-know-much-s_2584423.jpg" --- # When I came of age I did not know much. Still somehow, I… ![“When I came of age I did not know much. Still somehow, I could read, write, and cipher to the Rule of Three… The little advanceI now have upon this store of education, I have picked up from time to time under the pressure of necessity.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/abraham-lincoln-88_age_when-i-came-of-age-i-did-not-know-much-s_2584423.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/abraham-lincoln-88_age_when-i-came-of-age-i-did-not-know-much-s_2584423.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/abraham-lincoln-88_age_when-i-came-of-age-i-did-not-know-much-s_2584423.jpg) > “When I came of age I did not know much. Still somehow, I could read, write, and cipher to the Rule of Three… The little advanceI now have upon this store of education, I have picked up from time to time under the pressure of necessity.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning is driven by necessity; practical application deepens knowledge beyond formal study. **In simple terms:** Need forces learning. Key Takeaway Apply knowledge when needed. Themes education self‑directed learning necessity Mood determined pragmatic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career challenges - emergency situations - DIY projects - crisis management - personal growth Key Concepts experiential learning motivation Questions to Reflect On - When have you learned best under pressure? - What risks arise from learning only when forced? A Different Perspective Not all learning opportunities are positive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Autobiography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiography/) [Ciphers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ciphers/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Necessity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessity/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“A little rule, a little sway, A sunbeam in a winter’s day, Is all the proud and mighty have Between the cradle and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer/a-little-rule-a-little-sway-a-sunbeam-in-a-winter-s-day-is-all-the/) [John Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer/) > [He wasn’t allowed to come with me there—my own rule for this little adventure. No more. 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My parents were both born in Virginia, of undistinguished families--second families, perhaps I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-was-born-feb-12-1809-in-hardin-county-kentucky-my-parents-were-both/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I got into journalism because I came of age in the '60s. It just seemed one way for me to get things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/i-got-into-journalism-because-i-came-of-age-in-the-60s-it-just-seemed/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [We are the generation that came of age in an ageless society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-wyse/we-are-the-generation-that-came-of-age-in-an-ageless-society/) [Lois Wyse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-wyse/) > [“I don’t wax or shave like a lot of women do these days.” He laughed. “Good. I don’t want to feel like I’m having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-clare/i-don-t-wax-or-shave-like-a-lot-of-women-do-these-days-he-laughed/) [Pamela Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-clare/) > [“Whiggery came of age in 1896, and he spoke”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-wayne-morgan/whiggery-came-of-age-in-1896-and-he-spoke/) H. Wayne Morgan > [I still like to listen to the people that I came of age on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-still-like-to-listen-to-the-people-that-i-came-of-age-on/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [I came of age during the Golden Age of rom coms - like the '90s and 2000s - there were so many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/i-came-of-age-during-the-golden-age-of-rom-coms-like-the-90s-and/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [Born in 1966, I came of age at the dawn of a revolution. The past was gone; we would move on and get over it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/born-in-1966-i-came-of-age-at-the-dawn-of-a-revolution-the-past-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As I’ve said before, “the Mod generation”, contrary to popular belief, was not born in even 1958, but in the 1920s after a steady…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruadh-n-j-mcelroy/as-i-ve-said-before-the-mod-generation-contrary-to-popular-belief-was/) [Ruadhán J. McElroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruadh-n-j-mcelroy/) > [“In life, wisdom usually came with age, but death offered another world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-marie-baumgartner/in-life-wisdom-usually-came-with-age-but-death-offered-another-world/) [Jessica Marie Baumgartner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-marie-baumgartner/) ## More by Abraham Lincoln > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. 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I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." 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