--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was called 'Dumbo,' like the elephant…" description: "\"I was called 'Dumbo,' like the elephant, as a child because I couldn't understand things at school.\" — Anthony Hopkins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/anthony-hopkins-1334_children_i-was-called-dumbo-like-the-elephant-as_2397141.png" --- # I was called 'Dumbo,' like the elephant, as a child… ![“I was called 'Dumbo,' like the elephant, as a child because I couldn't understand things at school.” quote by Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/anthony-hopkins-1334_children_i-was-called-dumbo-like-the-elephant-as_2397141.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/anthony-hopkins-1334_children_i-was-called-dumbo-like-the-elephant-as_2397141.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/anthony-hopkins-1334_children_i-was-called-dumbo-like-the-elephant-as_2397141.png) > “I was called 'Dumbo,' like the elephant, as a child because I couldn't understand things at school.” [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being labeled “slow” in school reflects misunderstanding of different learning styles and intelligence types **In simple terms:** Kids labeled slow often have unique strengths not recognized early Key Takeaway Recognize diverse intelligences and avoid premature labeling Themes education identity neurodiversity Mood empathetic reflective Type motivational educational When to use this quote - classroom teaching - parental guidance - special education - career counseling Key Concepts cognitive development learning styles Questions to Reflect On - How can educators support students who think differently? - What strengths might be hidden behind “slow” labels? A Different Perspective Labels can become self‑fulfilling prophecies if not addressed ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumbo/) [Elephant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elephant/) [Elephants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elephants/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [Back then I was called Dumbo because of my ears. I was called Fatty, too. It was hurtful so I became like the class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-ekland/back-then-i-was-called-dumbo-because-of-my-ears-i-was-called-fatty/) [Britt Ekland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-ekland/) > [Elephants are my favourite creatures and have been since I was a boy and my mother read Kipling's The Elephant's Child to me. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/elephants-are-my-favourite-creatures-and-have-been-since-i-was-a-boy/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [I was never a great reader, but there were two stories I loved best: Kipling's The Elephant's Child and The Jungle Book. Deep down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/i-was-never-a-great-reader-but-there-were-two-stories-i-loved-best/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [Vision without execution is like a plane without wings, or Dumbo without ears, it just won't fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-capodagli/vision-without-execution-is-like-a-plane-without-wings-or-dumbo/) [Bill Capodagli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-capodagli/) > [Dumbo... makes me cry. Every single time and in the exact same spot. I just have a special affection for Dumbo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-maltin/dumbo-makes-me-cry-every-single-time-and-in-the-exact-same-spot-i/) [Leonard Maltin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-maltin/) > [I wish he hadn't gone and cut his hair. He looks about eight years old. His ears have tripled in size. Everyone's started calling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-sones/i-wish-he-hadn-t-gone-and-cut-his-hair-he-looks-about-eight-years-old/) [Sonya Sones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-sones/) > [I’m convinced that fear is at the root of most bad writing. Dumbo got airborne with the help of a magic feather; you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-m-convinced-that-fear-is-at-the-root-of-most-bad-writing-dumbo-got/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Dumbo! The ninth wonder of the univoise! The woild's only flyin' elephant! - Timothy Q. Mouse”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-aberson/dumbo-the-ninth-wonder-of-the-univoise-the-woild-s-only-flyin/) Helen Aberson > [“Every single person is a fool, insane, a failure, or a bad person to at least ten people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/every-single-person-is-a-fool-insane-a-failure-or-a-bad-person-to-at/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Just remember that Dumbo didn't need the feather; the magic was in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/just-remember-that-dumbo-didn-t-need-the-feather-the-magic-was-in-him/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I went to the archives to see what Dumbo work there was, not for current film, but just for my love of animation. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sohn/i-went-to-the-archives-to-see-what-dumbo-work-there-was-not-for/) Peter Sohn > [I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watty-piper/i-think-i-can-i-think-i-can-i-think-i-can-i-know-i-can/) Watty Piper > [“The very things that held you down are gonna carry you up and up and up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-mouse/the-very-things-that-held-you-down-are-gonna-carry-you-up-and-up-and/) Timothy Mouse > [“Love sounds like an elephant weighs. I know, because I’ve seen it with my own two nostrils. I’ve grown fat on the scent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-sounds-like-an-elephant-weighs-i-know-because-i-ve-seen-it-with/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I have a memory like an elephant. I remember every elephant I've ever met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-caen/i-have-a-memory-like-an-elephant-i-remember-every-elephant-i-ve-ever/) [Herb Caen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-caen/) ## More by Anthony Hopkins > [Life's too short to deal with other people's insecurities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/life-s-too-short-to-deal-with-other-people-s-insecurities/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I visualized a lot of things happening to me, because I was a lonely kid because I didn't understand anything about school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-visualized-a-lot-of-things-happening-to-me-because-i-was-a-lonely/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [My life is not my own business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/my-life-is-not-my-own-business/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I watched a film with a very famous, great, great actor, I won't mention his name because everyone loves his memory, but I thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-watched-a-film-with-a-very-famous-great-great-actor-i-won-t-mention/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [Danger is the spice of life and you’ve got to take a risk now and then…that’s what makes life worthwhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/danger-is-the-spice-of-life-and-you-ve-got-to-take-a-risk-now-and/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [Actors I admire? Ed Harris, or course, I think he's terrific; because I know he always had to fight being what he looked like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/actors-i-admire-ed-harris-or-course-i-think-he-s-terrific-because-i/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I love to have a laugh. I like to tease people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-love-to-have-a-laugh-i-like-to-tease-people/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I think doubt is a very healthy way to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-think-doubt-is-a-very-healthy-way-to-live/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [The knighthood was a tremendous honour, I don't dismiss it. But I feel embarrassed by the flowery, theatrical stuff that goes with being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/the-knighthood-was-a-tremendous-honour-i-don-t-dismiss-it-but-i-feel/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [My father was grounded, a very meat-and-potatoes man. He was a baker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/my-father-was-grounded-a-very-meat-and-potatoes-man-he-was-a-baker/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [Most of my last 30 years have been like that. Results and manifestations of things I'd dreamed of as a young kid and wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/most-of-my-last-30-years-have-been-like-that-results-and/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I used to be a bit obsessed by acting but not anymore. I do enjoy acting but I probably enjoy it more now because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-used-to-be-a-bit-obsessed-by-acting-but-not-anymore-i-do-enjoy/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I don't know what I believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-don-t-know-what-i-believe/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I always distrust the word art when it is applied to acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-always-distrust-the-word-art-when-it-is-applied-to-acting/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I just learn my lines, go on set. Do my preparation, whatever that is. Have a cup of coffee. Say hello to everyone. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-just-learn-my-lines-go-on-set-do-my-preparation-whatever-that-is/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) [Explore all 255 Anthony Hopkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? 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