--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that what I learned then, I…" description: "\"I think that what I learned then, I didn't know I was learning. I just knew that I was very privileged to see somebody who was a writer, a great poet, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/bernardo-bertolucci-10823_character_i-think-that-what-i-learned-then-i-didn_2257960.jpg" --- # I think that what I learned then, I didn't know I was… ![“I think that what I learned then, I didn't know I was learning. I just knew that I was very privileged to see somebody who was a writer, a great poet, and very smart-faced. Suddenly Pasolini becomes a director, so he has to invent cinema. It was like watching the invention of cinema. But I found…” quote by Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/bernardo-bertolucci-10823_character_i-think-that-what-i-learned-then-i-didn_2257960.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/bernardo-bertolucci-10823_character_i-think-that-what-i-learned-then-i-didn_2257960.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/bernardo-bertolucci-10823_character_i-think-that-what-i-learned-then-i-didn_2257960.jpg) > “I think that what I learned then, I didn't know I was learning. I just knew that I was very privileged to see somebody who was a writer, a great poet, and very smart-faced. Suddenly Pasolini becomes a director, so he has to invent cinema. It was like watching the invention of cinema. But I found out that Pasolini taught me a lot. It was, especially, the kind of respect that he had for reality. He had kind of epiphanies in his movies, like when a moment becomes full of grace, and it is like as if it was the most important moment in the life of a character.” [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning can be unconscious; observing masters reveals hidden lessons about reality and artistic reverence. **In simple terms:** Learning often happens without realizing it. Key Takeaway Pay attention to role models and their respect for truth. Themes art learning reality respect Mood thoughtful inspirational Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - film studies - creative workshops - art appreciation - career development Key Concepts epiphanies cinema poetry mentorship Questions to Reflect On - How have you unknowingly learned from others? - What moments in art have shifted your perception? A Different Perspective Unconscious learning may miss deliberate reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cinema Pasolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema-pasolini-5184258/) [Epiphany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epiphany/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Great poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-poet/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Invent Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invent-cinema-5184259/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Pasolini Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pasolini-director-5184257/) [Pasolini Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pasolini-taught-5184255/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Suddenly Pasolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suddenly-pasolini-5184256/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Very smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-smart/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [There are few greater treasures to be acquired in youth than great poetry-and prose-stored in the memory. At the time one may resent the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/there-are-few-greater-treasures-to-be-acquired-in-youth-than-great/) [Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) > [“Good artists exist simply in what they make, and consequently are perfectly uninteresting in what they are. A great poet, a really great poet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/good-artists-exist-simply-in-what-they-make-and-consequently-are-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [In the hands of a great poet, words have ways of affecting us in ways we don't understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-branagh/in-the-hands-of-a-great-poet-words-have-ways-of-affecting-us-in-ways/) [Kenneth Branagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-branagh/) > [Not all poetry wants to be storytelling. And not all storytelling wants to be poetry. But great storytellers and great poets share something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/not-all-poetry-wants-to-be-storytelling-and-not-all-storytelling/) [Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/) > [Whatever is genuine in social relations endures, despite of time, error, absence, and destiny; and that which has no inherent vitality had better die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-theodore-tuckerman/whatever-is-genuine-in-social-relations-endures-despite-of-time-error/) [Henry Theodore Tuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-theodore-tuckerman/) > [A great poet does not express his or her self; he expresses all of our selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-snyder/a-great-poet-does-not-express-his-or-her-self-he-expresses-all-of-our/) [Gary Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-snyder/) > [I would say, from an all-around point of view, Bruce Springsteen is one of the two great poet lords of America, Bob Dylan, coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-would-say-from-an-all-around-point-of-view-bruce-springsteen-is-one/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [“No man was ever yet a great poet, without at the same time being a profound philosopher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-man-was-ever-yet-a-great-poet-without-at-the-same-time-being-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A great poet gives words wings to fly in the reader's perceptual sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/a-great-poet-gives-words-wings-to-fly-in-the-reader-s-perceptual-sky/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [After all, the commonplaces are the great poetic truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/after-all-the-commonplaces-are-the-great-poetic-truths/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [The way a great poet takes an idea, small like the bud of a flower and makes it bloom. And makes you feel deeply..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/the-way-a-great-poet-takes-an-idea-small-like-the-bud-of-a-flower-and/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [It will be hard James but you come from sturdy peasant stock men who picked cotton and dammed rivers and built railroads and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-will-be-hard-james-but-you-come-from-sturdy-peasant-stock-men-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Shakespeare wrote great poetry and preposterous plays. Who really cares, for example, which petty tyrant rules Milan? Or who succeeds to the throne of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/shakespeare-wrote-great-poetry-and-preposterous-plays-who-really/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## More by Bernardo Bertolucci > [English dialogues are always just what you need and nothing more - like something out of Hemingway. In Italian and in French, dialogues are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/english-dialogues-are-always-just-what-you-need-and-nothing-more-like/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [The problem in Hollywood is that they try to become the only kind of cinema in the world, okay? The imposition everywhere of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/the-problem-in-hollywood-is-that-they-try-to-become-the-only-kind-of/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [I accept all interpretations of my films. The only reality is before the camera. Each film I make is kind of a return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/i-accept-all-interpretations-of-my-films-the-only-reality-is-before/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [I started very, very young to make movies - I was 21. And at the age of 27, 28, I'd done already three movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/i-started-very-very-young-to-make-movies-i-was-21-and-at-the-age-of/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [I think that I used to love Hollywood movies. I remember great phases and moments. But, unfortunately, now is not the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/i-think-that-i-used-to-love-hollywood-movies-i-remember-great-phases/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [I am still against any kind of censorship. It's a subject in my life that has been very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/i-am-still-against-any-kind-of-censorship-it-s-a-subject-in-my-life/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [The problem in Hollywood is that they try to become the only kind of cinema in the world, okay? The imposition everywhere of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/the-problem-in-hollywood-is-that-they-try-to-become-the-only-kind-of-2/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [I started in '69 to have psychoanalysis, and I realised very soon that I was changing, and that's I think why my movies were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/i-started-in-69-to-have-psychoanalysis-and-i-realised-very-soon-that/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [English dialogue is the best in the world. So dry and direct. The Italian language is beautiful, but it is too literary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/english-dialogue-is-the-best-in-the-world-so-dry-and-direct-the/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [I am in love with the idea of doing a movie in 3D. I think 3D would be great for the story I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/i-am-in-love-with-the-idea-of-doing-a-movie-in-3d-i-think-3d-would-be/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [Sometimes I think that I understand my movies after I make them. Really. I go very often off of instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/sometimes-i-think-that-i-understand-my-movies-after-i-make-them/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [I lived in a kind of dream of communism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/i-lived-in-a-kind-of-dream-of-communism/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [I'm no longer interested in making political films. There's something old-fashioned about them. Young people now don't care for politics. It isn't present in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/i-m-no-longer-interested-in-making-political-films-there-s-something/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [I make movies in order to make things understood, not to be shocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/i-make-movies-in-order-to-make-things-understood-not-to-be-shocking/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [I wanted to have a reaction from the audience. I wanted to be able to talk to somebody, and not be talking just to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/i-wanted-to-have-a-reaction-from-the-audience-i-wanted-to-be-able-to/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) [Explore all 63 Bernardo Bertolucci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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