--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If anyone ever asked my advice I'd say…" description: "\"If anyone ever asked my advice I'd say, 'go back to the roots and make your way up that way, rather than struggling at an academy.'\" — Ashley Barnes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/ashley-barnes-19980_advice_if-anyone-ever-asked-my-advice-i-d-say-g_2564912.jpg" --- # If anyone ever asked my advice I'd say, 'go back to the… ![“If anyone ever asked my advice I'd say, 'go back to the roots and make your way up that way, rather than struggling at an academy.'” quote by Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/ashley-barnes-19980_advice_if-anyone-ever-asked-my-advice-i-d-say-g_2564912.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/ashley-barnes-19980_advice_if-anyone-ever-asked-my-advice-i-d-say-g_2564912.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/ashley-barnes-19980_advice_if-anyone-ever-asked-my-advice-i-d-say-g_2564912.jpg) > “If anyone ever asked my advice I'd say, 'go back to the roots and make your way up that way, rather than struggling at an academy.'” [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advice to seek foundational learning over formal academia for deeper understanding. **In simple terms:** Prefer roots to formal schooling. Key Takeaway Learn fundamentals first. Themes education self‑development alternative paths Mood reflective encouraging Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career growth - personal projects - skill acquisition - entrepreneurship Key Concepts foundational learning self‑directed education Questions to Reflect On - What core skill could you develop outside school? - How does self‑learning compare to academic study? A Different Perspective May lack formal credentials valued by some employers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Advice Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice-say-726312/) [Asked Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-advice-770978/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Say Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-roots-1639941/) [Struggling Academy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggling-academy-1639940/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The fans in Canada have been there since day one. They're the originals. When people say that's your roots, that's literally my roots. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/the-fans-in-canada-have-been-there-since-day-one-they-re-the/) [Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/) > [Recently a young mother asked for advice. What, she wanted to know, was she to do with a 7-year-old who was obstreperous, outspoken, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/recently-a-young-mother-asked-for-advice-what-she-wanted-to-know-was/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I've been polite and I've always shown up. Somebody asked me if I had any advice for young people entering the business. I said:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-t-hall/i-ve-been-polite-and-i-ve-always-shown-up-somebody-asked-me-if-i-had/) [Tom T. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-t-hall/) > [Every time someone asks me where I'm from, I'm not sure how to answer that question... so I say I have no roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-merton/every-time-someone-asks-me-where-i-m-from-i-m-not-sure-how-to-answer/) [Alice Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-merton/) > [“You have written that the best and the longest lasting victory over the enemy can be attained by hitting at its roots. What do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-ranjan-goswami/you-have-written-that-the-best-and-the-longest-lasting-victory-over/) [Ravi Ranjan Goswami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-ranjan-goswami/) > [The fans in Canada have been there since day one. They're the originals. When people say that's your roots, that's literally my roots. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/the-fans-in-canada-have-been-there-since-day-one-they-re-the-2/) [Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/) > [“We cannot win a powerful enemy by fighting with arms. We can achieve our purpose by hitting at the roots. When I say roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-ranjan-goswami/we-cannot-win-a-powerful-enemy-by-fighting-with-arms-we-can-achieve/) [Ravi Ranjan Goswami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-ranjan-goswami/) > [The older I've got, the more I see my parents as people and not just my parents. I should have asked them for advice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-abrams/the-older-i-ve-got-the-more-i-see-my-parents-as-people-and-not-just/) [Gracie Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-abrams/) > [I see it still, "I merely wondered why you who are so often asked for advice by the Ministry, and who have twice, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voldemort/i-see-it-still-i-merely-wondered-why-you-who-are-so-often-asked-for/) [Voldemort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voldemort/) > [My son is a gentleman and a professional who is pursuing something difficult. Yet the only thing he has ever asked me for is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/my-son-is-a-gentleman-and-a-professional-who-is-pursuing-something/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [When asked for advice by beginners. Know your ending, I say, or the river of your story may finally sink into the desert sands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/when-asked-for-advice-by-beginners-know-your-ending-i-say-or-the/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [I try to send out a good message - I sometimes get asked for advice for leaving home and trying to 'make it' overseas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ricciardo/i-try-to-send-out-a-good-message-i-sometimes-get-asked-for-advice-for/) [Daniel Ricciardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ricciardo/) > [When asked to give advice, I do of course give it, because I give whatever I am asked to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/when-asked-to-give-advice-i-do-of-course-give-it-because-i-give/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [The vanity of being asked advice often makes us confirm the opinion of those that consult us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-vanity-of-being-asked-advice-often-makes-us-confirm-the-opinion/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [If someone asked for advice on being an actor I'd say "Don't. It's a hard life." And if they walked away I'd be happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-oberst-jr/if-someone-asked-for-advice-on-being-an-actor-i-d-say-don-t-it-s-a/) [Bill Oberst Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-oberst-jr/) ## More by Ashley Barnes > [I always said that I wanted to reach the top and I have done that. Every day I wake up, I have to pinch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/i-always-said-that-i-wanted-to-reach-the-top-and-i-have-done-that/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [Of course I enjoy playing the villain. Some of these players are 10 times better than you on the pitch, so you've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/of-course-i-enjoy-playing-the-villain-some-of-these-players-are-10/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [I am confident in my own ability and I know I can put it in the back of the net.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/i-am-confident-in-my-own-ability-and-i-know-i-can-put-it-in-the-back/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [It's fantastic to get promoted and a brilliant thing to have on your CV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/it-s-fantastic-to-get-promoted-and-a-brilliant-thing-to-have-on-your/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [There are a lot of people out there now playing non-League that are good enough to be in the Football League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/there-are-a-lot-of-people-out-there-now-playing-non-league-that-are/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [If you're at an academy you don't know anything else other than having everything at your feet. Having to work hard to make it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/if-you-re-at-an-academy-you-don-t-know-anything-else-other-than/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [Obviously it would be tough to be selected for England with the number of good players there is, and it is the same with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/obviously-it-would-be-tough-to-be-selected-for-england-with-the/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [I don't take no prisoners, even in training. I do like to wind up the big teams, and sometimes they fall for it, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/i-don-t-take-no-prisoners-even-in-training-i-do-like-to-wind-up-the/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [You just want to show what you're capable of and hopefully I have done that and shown how good I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/you-just-want-to-show-what-you-re-capable-of-and-hopefully-i-have/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [I know what winning the League means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/i-know-what-winning-the-league-means/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [It doesn't matter if you're old or young, you win together and lose together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-re-old-or-young-you-win-together-and-lose/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [I learn every day on the training ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/i-learn-every-day-on-the-training-ground/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [I've come a long way and everything has fallen into place for me luckily enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/i-ve-come-a-long-way-and-everything-has-fallen-into-place-for-me/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [Make no mistake about it. We're not there to draw, we're there to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/make-no-mistake-about-it-we-re-not-there-to-draw-we-re-there-to-win/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [I haven't forgotten what it was like to share lifts to away games and washing your own kit. Those things will always stay with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/i-haven-t-forgotten-what-it-was-like-to-share-lifts-to-away-games-and/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) [Explore all 31 Ashley Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If anyone ever asked my advice I'd say, 'go back to the roots and make your way up that way, rather than struggling at an academy.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ashley Barnes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/if-anyone-ever-asked-my-advice-i-d-say-go-back-to-the-roots-and-make/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/if-anyone-ever-asked-my-advice-i-d-say-go-back-to-the-roots-and-make/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/ashley-barnes-19980_advice_if-anyone-ever-asked-my-advice-i-d-say-g_2564912.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/ashley-barnes-19980_advice_if-anyone-ever-asked-my-advice-i-d-say-g_2564912.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/ashley-barnes-19980_advice_if-anyone-ever-asked-my-advice-i-d-say-g_2564912.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If anyone ever asked my advice I'd say, 'go back to the roots and make your way up that way, rather than…” — Ashley Barnes", "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": "Ashley Barnes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If anyone ever asked my advice...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/if-anyone-ever-asked-my-advice-i-d-say-go-back-to-the-roots-and-make/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/if-anyone-ever-asked-my-advice-i-d-say-go-back-to-the-roots-and-make/#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 } } ] } ```