--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I gather,\" he added, \"that you've never…" description: "\"“I gather,\" he added, \"that you've never had much time to study the classics?\" \"That is so.\" \"Pity. Pity. You've missed a lot. Everyone should be made ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/agatha-christie-154_classics_i-gather-he-added-that-you-ve-never-had_1413688.jpg" --- # I gather," he added, "that you've never had much time to… ![“I gather," he added, "that you've never had much time to study the classics?" "That is so." "Pity. Pity. You've missed a lot. Everyone should be made to study the classics, if I had my way." Poirot shrugged his shoulders. " Eh bien , I have got on very well without them." "Got on! Got on? It's not…” quote by Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/agatha-christie-154_classics_i-gather-he-added-that-you-ve-never-had_1413688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/agatha-christie-154_classics_i-gather-he-added-that-you-ve-never-had_1413688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/agatha-christie-154_classics_i-gather-he-added-that-you-ve-never-had_1413688.jpg) > ““I gather," he added, "that you've never had much time to study the classics?" "That is so." "Pity. Pity. You've missed a lot. Everyone should be made to study the classics, if I had my way." Poirot shrugged his shoulders. " Eh bien , I have got on very well without them." "Got on! Got on? It's not a question of getting on. That's the wrong view all together. The classics aren't a ladder leading to quick success, like a modern correspondence course! It's not a man's working hours that are important--it's his leisure hours. That's the mistake we all make. Take yourself now, you're getting on, you'll be wanting to get out of things, to take things easy--what are you going to do then with your leisure hours?”” [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage critiques the belief that classic literature is a shortcut to success, emphasizing that true mastery requires leisure and deep engagement, not just quick study. **In simple terms:** Classics aren't a fast track; real growth needs time and reflection. Key Takeaway Prioritize deep, thoughtful learning over speed. Themes education leisure learning values Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal development - academic study - career growth - creative pursuits Key Concepts humanism philosophy self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance leisure with deep learning? - What value do classics hold in modern life? A Different Perspective Quick study may produce superficial understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Classics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classics/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Got on! Got on! It's not a question of getting on. That's the wrong view altogether. The Classics aren't a ladder leading to quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/got-on-got-on-it-s-not-a-question-of-getting-on-that-s-the-wrong-view/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Classics aren't books that are read for pleasure. Classics are books that are imposed on unwilling students, books that are subjected to analyses of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-panshin/classics-aren-t-books-that-are-read-for-pleasure-classics-are-books/) [Alexei Panshin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-panshin/) > [“Men sometimes speak as if the study of the classics would at length make way for more modern and practical studies; but the adventurous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-sometimes-speak-as-if-the-study-of-the-classics-would-at-length-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Contrary to many young Colleagues, I do believe that it makes sense to study the Classics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/contrary-to-many-young-colleagues-i-do-believe-that-it-makes-sense-to/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [Men sometimes speak as if the study of the classics would at length make way for more modern and practical studies; but the adventurous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-sometimes-speak-as-if-the-study-of-the-classics-would-at-length/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The study of science teaches young men to think, while study of the classics teaches them to express thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-study-of-science-teaches-young-men-to-think-while-study-of-the/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [I feel like I'm sort of afraid to study too much because I feel like I work as I go, but I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/i-feel-like-i-m-sort-of-afraid-to-study-too-much-because-i-feel-like/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [Virtually the only subject in which one could ever get a scholarship to Oxford or Cambridge was classics. So I went to Oxford to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-williams/virtually-the-only-subject-in-which-one-could-ever-get-a-scholarship/) [Bernard Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-williams/) > [“Poirot, watching him, felt suddenly a doubt--an uncomfortable twinge. Was there, here, something that he had missed? Some richness of the spirit? Sadness crept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/poirot-watching-him-felt-suddenly-a-doubt-an-uncomfortable-twinge-was/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [I like a lot of movies. I like all types of genres. I like the classics - comedy, action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-green/i-like-a-lot-of-movies-i-like-all-types-of-genres-i-like-the-classics/) [Danny Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-green/) > [“So it is that in our world hopes are thwarted at every turn and the people's lot is always pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royall-tyler/so-it-is-that-in-our-world-hopes-are-thwarted-at-every-turn-and-the/) Royall Tyler > [It's so important your customer can rely on you for your classics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-wren-scott/it-s-so-important-your-customer-can-rely-on-you-for-your-classics/) [L'Wren Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-wren-scott/) > [Professors of classics - not even a professor of English - professors of classics, they're something sacred; it's almost like being a priest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-segal/professors-of-classics-not-even-a-professor-of-english-professors-of/) [Erich Segal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-segal/) > [“You don't know what your life is, nor what you're doing, nor who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/you-don-t-know-what-your-life-is-nor-what-you-re-doing-nor-who-you-are/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [I was interested in all kinds of things, whether it be Avatar, Mad Men, Troy, 300, Battlestar Gallactica, or the poems of Horace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mendelsohn/i-was-interested-in-all-kinds-of-things-whether-it-be-avatar-mad-men/) [Daniel Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mendelsohn/) ## More by Agatha Christie > [One must accept the fact that we have only one companion in this world, a companion who accompanies us from the cradle to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/one-must-accept-the-fact-that-we-have-only-one-companion-in-this/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“I like to see an angry Englishman," said Poirot. "They are very amusing. The more emotional they feel the less command they have of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-like-to-see-an-angry-englishman-said-poirot-they-are-very-amusing/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Now, as I expect you know, there is nothing more cruel than talk, and there is nothing more difficult to combat. When people say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/now-as-i-expect-you-know-there-is-nothing-more-cruel-than-talk-and/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“A child says ‘Thank God for my good dinner’. What can I say at seventy-five? ‘Thank God for my good life, and for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/a-child-says-thank-god-for-my-good-dinner-what-can-i-say-at-seventy/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“I'm afraid I always find Shakespeare terribly dreary. All those long scenes where everybody is drunk and it's supposed to be funny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-m-afraid-i-always-find-shakespeare-terribly-dreary-all-those-long/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Either her dream had taken a very odd turn or else - or else Mary had really rushed into the room and had said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/either-her-dream-had-taken-a-very-odd-turn-or-else-or-else-mary-had/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Every murderer is probably somebody’s old friend,” observed Poirot philosophically. “You cannot mix up sentiment and reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/every-murderer-is-probably-somebody-s-old-friend-observed-poirot/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Well, of course, it was not any of my business but you get very queer glimpses of life sometimes, and you can't help speculating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/well-of-course-it-was-not-any-of-my-business-but-you-get-very-queer/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Mr. Satterthwaite looked cheered. Suddenly an idea struck him. His jaw fell. "My goodness," he cried, "I've only just realized it! That rascal, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/mr-satterthwaite-looked-cheered-suddenly-an-idea-struck-him-his-jaw/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“The old gentleman refuses to have the telephone which he regards as a device of the devil, and on a par with radio, television,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/the-old-gentleman-refuses-to-have-the-telephone-which-he-regards-as-a/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“That’s how they do it, these girls! Othello charmed Desdemona by telling her stories, but, oh, didn’t Desdemona charm Othello by the way she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/that-s-how-they-do-it-these-girls-othello-charmed-desdemona-by/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/it-is-ridiculous-to-set-a-detective-story-in-new-york-city-new-york/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Poirot, watching him, felt suddenly a doubt--an uncomfortable twinge. Was there, here, something that he had missed? Some richness of the spirit? Sadness crept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/poirot-watching-him-felt-suddenly-a-doubt-an-uncomfortable-twinge-was/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [In the midst of life, we are in death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/in-the-midst-of-life-we-are-in-death/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [Then there are some minor points that strike me as suggestive - for instance, the position of Mrs. Hubbard's sponge bag, the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/then-there-are-some-minor-points-that-strike-me-as-suggestive-for/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) [Explore all 1,053 Agatha Christie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) ## More Classics quotes > [I was interested in all kinds of things, whether it be Avatar, Mad Men, Troy, 300, Battlestar Gallactica, or the poems of Horace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mendelsohn/i-was-interested-in-all-kinds-of-things-whether-it-be-avatar-mad-men/) [Daniel Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mendelsohn/) > [“So it is that in our world hopes are thwarted at every turn and the people's lot is always pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royall-tyler/so-it-is-that-in-our-world-hopes-are-thwarted-at-every-turn-and-the/) Royall Tyler > [It's so important your customer can rely on you for your classics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-wren-scott/it-s-so-important-your-customer-can-rely-on-you-for-your-classics/) [L'Wren Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-wren-scott/) > [Professors of classics - not even a professor of English - professors of classics, they're something sacred; it's almost like being a priest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-segal/professors-of-classics-not-even-a-professor-of-english-professors-of/) [Erich Segal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-segal/) > [“You don't know what your life is, nor what you're doing, nor who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/you-don-t-know-what-your-life-is-nor-what-you-re-doing-nor-who-you-are/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [I like a lot of movies. I like all types of genres. I like the classics - comedy, action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-green/i-like-a-lot-of-movies-i-like-all-types-of-genres-i-like-the-classics/) [Danny Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-green/) > [“Poirot, watching him, felt suddenly a doubt--an uncomfortable twinge. Was there, here, something that he had missed? Some richness of the spirit? Sadness crept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/poirot-watching-him-felt-suddenly-a-doubt-an-uncomfortable-twinge-was/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“A classic is read not to enjoy but only to be boast about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aman-jassal/a-classic-is-read-not-to-enjoy-but-only-to-be-boast-about-it/) [Aman Jassal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aman-jassal/) > [“Betsy was so full of joy that she had to be alone. She went upstairs to her bedroom and sat down on Uncle Keith's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-hart-lovelace/betsy-was-so-full-of-joy-that-she-had-to-be-alone-she-went-upstairs/) [Maud Hart Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-hart-lovelace/) > [“You are too generous to trifle with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/you-are-too-generous-to-trifle-with-me/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Don't play with others, or at one day, you will be played by others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usama-ejaz/don-t-play-with-others-or-at-one-day-you-will-be-played-by-others/) Usama Ejaz > [“Sin is the only real colour-element left in modern life.' 'You really must not say things like that before Dorian, Harry.' 'Before which Dorian?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sin-is-the-only-real-colour-element-left-in-modern-life-you-really/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“They always looked back before turning the corner, for their mother was always at the window to nod and smile, and wave her hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/they-always-looked-back-before-turning-the-corner-for-their-mother/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I can trace my interest in modern classics to the summer before art college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-can-trace-my-interest-in-modern-classics-to-the-summer-before-art/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [“Those who have not learned to read the ancient classics in the language in which they were written must have a very imperfect knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/those-who-have-not-learned-to-read-the-ancient-classics-in-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 314 Classics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I gather,\" he added, \"that you've never had much time to study the classics?\" \"That is so.\" \"Pity. 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