---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In terms of formal education, I may…"
description: "\"In terms of formal education, I may somewhat lacking. I never finished school. I am a self-taught entrepreneur, that's the best kind there is, trust me..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/aravind-adiga-4424_business_in-terms-of-formal-education-i-may-somew_2934047.png"
---

#  In terms of formal education, I may somewhat lacking. I…

![“In terms of formal education, I may somewhat lacking. I never finished school. I am a self-taught entrepreneur, that's the best kind there is, trust me” quote by Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/aravind-adiga-4424_business_in-terms-of-formal-education-i-may-somew_2934047.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/aravind-adiga-4424_business_in-terms-of-formal-education-i-may-somew_2934047.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/aravind-adiga-4424_business_in-terms-of-formal-education-i-may-somew_2934047.png)

> “In terms of formal education, I may somewhat lacking. I never finished school. I am a self-taught entrepreneur, that's the best kind there is, trust me”

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Self‑education can surpass formal schooling; entrepreneurial success relies on experience and confidence.

**In simple terms:** Learning outside school works.

Key Takeaway

Embrace self‑directed learning.

Themes

education entrepreneurship self‑reliance

Mood

motivational pragmatic

Type

career inspirational

When to use this quote

- startup founding
- career change
- online courses

Key Concepts

growth mindset skill acquisition

Questions to Reflect On

- What skills have you taught yourself?
- How do you prove competence without a degree?

A Different Perspective

Formal credentials still matter to some employers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education Somewhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-somewhat-1441460/) [Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneur/) [Finished school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished-school/) [Formal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formal/) [Formal education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formal-education/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Lacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lacking/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-self-1959307/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-taught/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Taught Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-entrepreneur-1872771/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Trust me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-me/)

## Related quotes

> [“I am a self-taught entrepreneur. That’s the best kind there is, trust me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/i-am-a-self-taught-entrepreneur-that-s-the-best-kind-there-is-trust-me/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [It's not just that people with no education have worse health. People with a bit of education at somewhat better, with a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marmot/it-s-not-just-that-people-with-no-education-have-worse-health-people/)

[Michael Marmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marmot/)

> [Nature and education are somewhat similar. The latter transforms man, and in so doing creates a second nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/nature-and-education-are-somewhat-similar-the-latter-transforms-man/)

[Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/)

> [The brainy class is made up of individuals who think for themselves and beyond formal education are continuous learners who tend to be self-taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/the-brainy-class-is-made-up-of-individuals-who-think-for-themselves/)

[Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/)

> [Self-taught are those without formal education. Most self-taught artists have missing ingredients to their work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-cannon/self-taught-are-those-without-formal-education-most-self-taught/)

[Billy Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-cannon/)

> [What is the most important thing one learns in school? Self-esteem, support, and friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/what-is-the-most-important-thing-one-learns-in-school-self-esteem/)

[Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/)

> [“The greatest innovators and history makers of our world were not great because of the formal school system but because of self-development through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-greatest-innovators-and-history-makers-of-our-world-were-not/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [We don't teach kids how to think anymore. We're getting rid of the classics - high school is all about self-esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-harrison/we-don-t-teach-kids-how-to-think-anymore-we-re-getting-rid-of-the/)

[Rick Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-harrison/)

> [You always get do-overs in life, unless you do something really bad. It's okay to mess up. I wish I could go back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-gordon/you-always-get-do-overs-in-life-unless-you-do-something-really-bad-it/)

[Molly Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-gordon/)

> [“You go to a great school not so much for knowledge as for arts and habits; for the habit of attention, for the art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cory/you-go-to-a-great-school-not-so-much-for-knowledge-as-for-arts-and/)

[William Cory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cory/)

> [The first lesson in Christ's school is self-denial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/the-first-lesson-in-christ-s-school-is-self-denial/)

[Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/)

> [“We mostly say that we hate to go to school. But life's a school its-self, and the lessons are the struggles of each day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-gabryelle-dos-santos/we-mostly-say-that-we-hate-to-go-to-school-but-life-s-a-school-its/)

[Amanda gabryelle dos santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-gabryelle-dos-santos/)

> [I grew up in Bridlington until I was 16, and I lived with my mum and my sisters. I finished school, got my GCSE's,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-heaton/i-grew-up-in-bridlington-until-i-was-16-and-i-lived-with-my-mum-and/)

[Charlie Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-heaton/)

> [The childhood games ended for me when I was 14 and I finished school. I had to find a job, not an easy thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-zatopek/the-childhood-games-ended-for-me-when-i-was-14-and-i-finished-school/)

[Emil Zatopek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-zatopek/)

> [I was always made to work at a very early age. I finished school at 4 P.M. and by 5 P.M. I was working.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-gubay/i-was-always-made-to-work-at-a-very-early-age-i-finished-school-at-4/)

[Albert Gubay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-gubay/)

## More by Aravind Adiga

> [Columbia University, where I went to study in 1993, insisted its undergraduates learn a foreign language, so I discovered French.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/columbia-university-where-i-went-to-study-in-1993-insisted-its/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [What keeps India safe really is the heroism of millions of poor Indians who every day reject the allure of terrorism. What keeps India…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/what-keeps-india-safe-really-is-the-heroism-of-millions-of-poor/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [“Every day, on the roads of Delhi, some chauffeur is driving an empty car with a black suitcase sitting on the backseat. Inside that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/every-day-on-the-roads-of-delhi-some-chauffeur-is-driving-an-empty/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [I am coming back to New York after five years, and it seems that psychics are taking over the city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/i-am-coming-back-to-new-york-after-five-years-and-it-seems-that/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [You ask 'Are you a man or a demon?' Neither, I say. I have woken up, and the rest of you are sleeping, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/you-ask-are-you-a-man-or-a-demon-neither-i-say-i-have-woken-up-and/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [I’ve lived in several countries and been a disaster everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/i-ve-lived-in-several-countries-and-been-a-disaster-everywhere/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [Neither. I am just one who has woken up while the rest of you are still sleeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/neither-i-am-just-one-who-has-woken-up-while-the-rest-of-you-are/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [“People in this country are still waiting for the war of their freedom to come from somewhere else, from the jungles, from the mountains,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/people-in-this-country-are-still-waiting-for-the-war-of-their-freedom/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [“These people were building homes for the rich, but they lived in tents covered with blue tarpaulin sheets, and partitioned into lanes by lines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/these-people-were-building-homes-for-the-rich-but-they-lived-in-tents/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [“And then he realized that the thing that was blocking his passage was cleared, and he was falling; his body had begun its short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/and-then-he-realized-that-the-thing-that-was-blocking-his-passage-was/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [“When it comes to work - hurry, hurry, hurry. When it comes to payment - delay, delay, delay. Caste, religion, family background nothing. Talent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/when-it-comes-to-work-hurry-hurry-hurry-when-it-comes-to-payment/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [“There was a fierce jam on the road to Gurgaon. Every five minutes the traffic would tremble - we'd move a foot - hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/there-was-a-fierce-jam-on-the-road-to-gurgaon-every-five-minutes-the/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [“From the advertisement, his eyes moved up the skywalk, the zigzagging metal bridge that connected various locations in the neighborhood to the Banda train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/from-the-advertisement-his-eyes-moved-up-the-skywalk-the-zigzagging/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [It's amazing. The moment you show cash, everyone knows your language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/it-s-amazing-the-moment-you-show-cash-everyone-knows-your-language/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [“Even here, in the weight machine of a train station, they try to hoodwink us. Here, on the threshold of a man's freedom, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/even-here-in-the-weight-machine-of-a-train-station-they-try-to/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

[Explore all 111 Aravind Adiga quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

## More Business quotes

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/)

[Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/)

[N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/)

[Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/)

> [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/)

[Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/)

> [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

[Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In terms of formal education, I may somewhat lacking. I never finished school. I am a self-taught entrepreneur, that's the best kind there is, trust me",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Aravind Adiga"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/in-terms-of-formal-education-i-may-somewhat-lacking-i-never-finished/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/in-terms-of-formal-education-i-may-somewhat-lacking-i-never-finished/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/aravind-adiga-4424_business_in-terms-of-formal-education-i-may-somew_2934047.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/aravind-adiga-4424_business_in-terms-of-formal-education-i-may-somew_2934047.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/aravind-adiga-4424_business_in-terms-of-formal-education-i-may-somew_2934047.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In terms of formal education, I may somewhat lacking. I never finished school. I am a self-taught…” — Aravind Adiga",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Aravind Adiga",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In terms of formal education, I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/in-terms-of-formal-education-i-may-somewhat-lacking-i-never-finished/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/in-terms-of-formal-education-i-may-somewhat-lacking-i-never-finished/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
