--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Understood what the struggle was about…" description: "\"Understood what the struggle was about. My mother. Couldn't read or write, but she had more sense than many a graduate from Harvard.\" — Al Lewis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/al-lewis-24877_graduation_understood-what-the-struggle-was-about-m_1245955.png" --- # Understood what the struggle was about. My mother… ![“Understood what the struggle was about. My mother. Couldn't read or write, but she had more sense than many a graduate from Harvard.” quote by Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/al-lewis-24877_graduation_understood-what-the-struggle-was-about-m_1245955.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/al-lewis-24877_graduation_understood-what-the-struggle-was-about-m_1245955.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/al-lewis-24877_graduation_understood-what-the-struggle-was-about-m_1245955.png) > “Understood what the struggle was about. My mother. Couldn't read or write, but she had more sense than many a graduate from Harvard.” [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal hardship can foster practical wisdom beyond formal education. **In simple terms:** Life experience can outshine degrees. Key Takeaway Value real-world insight over credentials. Themes education wisdom humility Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Family counseling - community workshops - mentor meetings Key Concepts Socioeconomic mobility informal learning cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance academic and experiential knowledge? - When should we prioritize one over the other? A Different Perspective Formal education still offers essential skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Couldn Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couldn-read/) [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother Couldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-couldn-621183/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-mother-3163481/) [Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood/) [Understood Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood-struggle-3908781/) ## Related quotes > [“And so she felt antagonized by a man who did nothing to antagonize her, and by Bela, who did not even know the meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhumpa-lahiri/and-so-she-felt-antagonized-by-a-man-who-did-nothing-to-antagonize/) [Jhumpa Lahiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhumpa-lahiri/) > [My mother couldn't have been happier when I said I was moving to New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-garber/my-mother-couldn-t-have-been-happier-when-i-said-i-was-moving-to-new/) [Victor Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-garber/) > [I was 17 pounds when I was born. My mother couldn't walk for three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-donovan/i-was-17-pounds-when-i-was-born-my-mother-couldn-t-walk-for-three/) [Art Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-donovan/) > [I realized that your mother couldn't see the emptiness, she couldn't see anything...All of the words I'd written to her over all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-realized-that-your-mother-couldn-t-see-the-emptiness-she-couldn-t/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [I was wild. 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Now I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stewart/i-do-what-i-do-in-my-mother-s-name-because-i-couldn-t-help-her-then/) [Patrick Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stewart/) > [I'll show up at every classroom open house and teacher conference,' she said, now in a voice that was almost frightening in its intensity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/i-ll-show-up-at-every-classroom-open-house-and-teacher-conference-she/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [I was born on the kitchen table. We were so poor my mother couldn't afford to have me; the lady next door gave birth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/i-was-born-on-the-kitchen-table-we-were-so-poor-my-mother-couldn-t/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [“Mother: “I couldn’t stand his friends from medical school. They were all pompous and awkward. They knew how to memorize but they didn’t know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eula-biss/mother-i-couldn-t-stand-his-friends-from-medical-school-they-were-all/) [Eula Biss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eula-biss/) > [She was my mother. I couldn't threaten to slap, stab, beat or even name call her. I tried to think of something to scare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/she-was-my-mother-i-couldn-t-threaten-to-slap-stab-beat-or-even-name/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [I had learned that there were substitutes for a mother who couldn't be a mother. You could find love with other people. You could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-had-learned-that-there-were-substitutes-for-a-mother-who-couldn-t/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“Because my mother couldn't change my present, I decided to change my daughter's future”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/because-my-mother-couldn-t-change-my-present-i-decided-to-change-my/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [I admire the women who can have babies and jump right back to work. As a nursing mother, I couldn’t sit there and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-admire-the-women-who-can-have-babies-and-jump-right-back-to-work-as/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [“Whilst my mother couldn't give me access to the world, she at least made sure to let me know it existed. A kid cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/whilst-my-mother-couldn-t-give-me-access-to-the-world-she-at-least/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) ## More by Al Lewis > [My secret for success? I don't know what the hell success means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/my-secret-for-success-i-don-t-know-what-the-hell-success-means/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [I know who I am. I don't have to brag. I know what I contributed. I know what I did. You think you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/i-know-who-i-am-i-don-t-have-to-brag-i-know-what-i-contributed-i-know/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [Every Friday I used to have about fifty, sixty kids who would wait for me on Sunset Boulevard and I'd take them all to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/every-friday-i-used-to-have-about-fifty-sixty-kids-who-would-wait-for/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [The United States, per capita, at a certain period in its history, had the most junkies of any country ever in the world -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/the-united-states-per-capita-at-a-certain-period-in-its-history-had/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [I was an organizer in the Food, Agricultural and Tobacco Workers Union down in North Carolina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/i-was-an-organizer-in-the-food-agricultural-and-tobacco-workers-union/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [I probably worked every single entertainment medium, including some that don't exist. I worked the circus, carnival, I had my own medicine show, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/i-probably-worked-every-single-entertainment-medium-including-some/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [I've been in the struggle over seventy years - it doesn't bother me I may not win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/i-ve-been-in-the-struggle-over-seventy-years-it-doesn-t-bother-me-i/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [I think people need housing. And there's empty buildings, I think people should live in there. If you want to call them squatters, trespassers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/i-think-people-need-housing-and-there-s-empty-buildings-i-think/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [The struggle goes on. The victory is in the struggle, for me. And I accepted that a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/the-struggle-goes-on-the-victory-is-in-the-struggle-for-me-and-i/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [Oscar Wilde said the rich and the poor are equal - they can both sleep under the bridge. Right? Do they have a right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/oscar-wilde-said-the-rich-and-the-poor-are-equal-they-can-both-sleep/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [I'm for everyone having the opportunity to accept a $150,000 bribe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/i-m-for-everyone-having-the-opportunity-to-accept-a-150-000-bribe/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [I'm more important to me than any body you can mention. Do you know that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/i-m-more-important-to-me-than-any-body-you-can-mention-do-you-know/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [The ruling class is smarter than you, and they're more creative. And if you forget that lesson, you go down the drain. Because if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/the-ruling-class-is-smarter-than-you-and-they-re-more-creative-and-if/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [America gets the politicians they deserve. That's it. And you keep struggling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/america-gets-the-politicians-they-deserve-that-s-it-and-you-keep/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [I prefer that for my own satisfaction over radio, there's no audience. TV, there's no audience. I need the response of the audience, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/i-prefer-that-for-my-own-satisfaction-over-radio-there-s-no-audience/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) [Explore all 23 Al Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) ## More Graduation quotes > [Each year more than 100,000 high school graduates, with proved ability, do not enter college because they cannot afford it. And if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/each-year-more-than-100-000-high-school-graduates-with-proved-ability/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it sure has earned a lot of people graduate degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-irving/curiosity-may-have-killed-the-cat-but-it-sure-has-earned-a-lot-of/) [Robyn Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-irving/) > [A much as I say I'm ready to graduate I know I'm going to miss high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-much-as-i-say-i-m-ready-to-graduate-i-know-i-m-going-to-miss-high/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My graduation speech: I would like to thank wikipedia, copy and paste. I'm out peeps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brookelle-willcox/my-graduation-speech-i-would-like-to-thank-wikipedia-copy-and-paste-i/) [Brookelle Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brookelle-willcox/) > [Just wanted to congratulate myself on sitting through your graduation ceremony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-wanted-to-congratulate-myself-on-sitting-through-your-graduation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Only one-third of college students from the bottom quarter of households graduate, while two-thirds of students from the top quarter do. Both ability and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temin/only-one-third-of-college-students-from-the-bottom-quarter-of/) [Peter Temin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temin/) > [When one considers our nation's educational foundations - Harvard, Yale, Princeton and most of our respected institutions were originally Christian - it becomes evident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-falwell/when-one-considers-our-nation-s-educational-foundations-harvard-yale/) [Jonathan Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-falwell/) > [In the summer we graduated we flipped out completely, drinking beer, cruising in our cars and beating up each other. It was a crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/in-the-summer-we-graduated-we-flipped-out-completely-drinking-beer/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [My undergraduate studies at Brown and graduate degrees from Harvard prepared me for a multifaceted career as an actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/my-undergraduate-studies-at-brown-and-graduate-degrees-from-harvard/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [John Shook's experience shows just how important problemsolving is at Toyota - it comes before any other job skill for the graduate intake. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-burns/john-shook-s-experience-shows-just-how-important-problemsolving-is-at/) [Martin Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-burns/) > [The golden opportunity you are seeking is within yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/the-golden-opportunity-you-are-seeking-is-within-yourself/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [“On the other side of graduation was her actual life, the slow narrowing of possibilities that would catch her and freeze her in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ling-ma/on-the-other-side-of-graduation-was-her-actual-life-the-slow/) [Ling Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ling-ma/) > [Go God's way! His is the most reliable route to follow when life gets complicated. It will have its tough moments, but you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/go-god-s-way-his-is-the-most-reliable-route-to-follow-when-life-gets/) [Charles R. 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