--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me, I was somebody who was a smart…" description: "\"For me, I was somebody who was a smart young guy who didn't do very well in school. The basic system of education, I didn't fit in; my intelligence was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/bruce-springsteen-546_education_for-me-i-was-somebody-who-was-a-smart-yo_1264581.jpg" --- # For me, I was somebody who was a smart young guy who… ![“For me, I was somebody who was a smart young guy who didn't do very well in school. The basic system of education, I didn't fit in; my intelligence was elsewhere.” quote by Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/bruce-springsteen-546_education_for-me-i-was-somebody-who-was-a-smart-yo_1264581.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/bruce-springsteen-546_education_for-me-i-was-somebody-who-was-a-smart-yo_1264581.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/bruce-springsteen-546_education_for-me-i-was-somebody-who-was-a-smart-yo_1264581.jpg) > “For me, I was somebody who was a smart young guy who didn't do very well in school. The basic system of education, I didn't fit in; my intelligence was elsewhere.” [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on feeling misaligned with traditional schooling, finding his intelligence elsewhere **In simple terms:** He didn’t fit the school system; his talents lay elsewhere Key Takeaway Seek environments that match your strengths Themes education self‑discovery nonconformity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Career counseling - creative pursuits - entrepreneurial ventures - self‑directed learning Key Concepts Multiple intelligences alternative pathways Questions to Reflect On - How can schools honor diverse intelligences? - What alternative paths can you explore? A Different Perspective Societal pressure may force conformity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) ## Related quotes > [It takes somebody smart to play somebody dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chevy-chase/it-takes-somebody-smart-to-play-somebody-dumb/) [Chevy Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chevy-chase/) > [The movies that work are the ones in which somebody very smart figured out how to take all the thematic material, all the character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-rudin/the-movies-that-work-are-the-ones-in-which-somebody-very-smart/) [Scott Rudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-rudin/) > [When you have somebody that's smart and you're not so smart, to me that's modern day slavery because you're being dictated to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-hopkins/when-you-have-somebody-that-s-smart-and-you-re-not-so-smart-to-me/) [Bernard Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-hopkins/) > ['This is America,' my father used to say to me, 'and in this country, a smart young fellow like you can grow up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lieberman/this-is-america-my-father-used-to-say-to-me-and-in-this-country-a/) [Joe Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lieberman/) > [“john was smart, but he was also a young male with a usually empty belly. sometimes it was simple as that”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/john-was-smart-but-he-was-also-a-young-male-with-a-usually-empty/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [A lot of smart young people have come out of Indiana. The smarter they are, the faster they come out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/a-lot-of-smart-young-people-have-come-out-of-indiana-the-smarter-they/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [I don't think Emma Watson needs any advice. She's an incredibly smart young woman who knows what she wants out of life and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/i-don-t-think-emma-watson-needs-any-advice-she-s-an-incredibly-smart/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [He was smart, but he was also a young male with a usually empty belly. sometimes it was simple as that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhiess-krieg/he-was-smart-but-he-was-also-a-young-male-with-a-usually-empty-belly/) [Jhiess Krieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhiess-krieg/) > [I was kind of smart enough when I was young, 14 or 15 years old, to realize that if you're ever going to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-hull/i-was-kind-of-smart-enough-when-i-was-young-14-or-15-years-old-to/) [Brett Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-hull/) > [The Duffers are very smart young men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-mclaughlin/the-duffers-are-very-smart-young-men/) [Caleb McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-mclaughlin/) > [It's fun working with smart, young women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-coles/it-s-fun-working-with-smart-young-women/) [Joanna Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-coles/) > [I'm here because I'm smart, not because I'm young and gorgeous... although I am!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judge-judy/i-m-here-because-i-m-smart-not-because-i-m-young-and-gorgeous/) [Judge Judy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judge-judy/) > [When I left school I went onto the shop floor, working 12-hour shifts in a TV factory. My workmates were sharp, skilled and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcdonnell/when-i-left-school-i-went-onto-the-shop-floor-working-12-hour-shifts/) [John McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcdonnell/) > [I grew up at a time in Hawaii where there were trans women around, so there were visible role models for me. At the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/i-grew-up-at-a-time-in-hawaii-where-there-were-trans-women-around-so/) [Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/) > [When I moved to Chicago, I was coming from a school that didn't have any arts in Alabama. I essentially came from a town…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/when-i-moved-to-chicago-i-was-coming-from-a-school-that-didn-t-have/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) ## More by Bruce Springsteen > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [When I die throw my body in the back and drive me to the junk yard in my Cadillac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-i-die-throw-my-body-in-the-back-and-drive-me-to-the-junk-yard-in/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [When you start talking about elections being rigged, you're pushing people beyond democratic governance. And it's a very, very dangerous thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-you-start-talking-about-elections-being-rigged-you-re-pushing/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I got Mary pregnant and man that's all she wrote. And for my 19th birthday, I got a union card and a factory coat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-got-mary-pregnant-and-man-that-s-all-she-wrote-and-for-my-19th/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ I don't know if I know anyone, with the exception of the early inventors of rock music \[who wasn't influenced by something\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-don-t-know-if-i-know-anyone-with-the-exception-of-the-early/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [People see you onstage and, yeah, I'd want to be that guy.I want to be that guy myself very often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/people-see-you-onstage-and-yeah-i-d-want-to-be-that-guy-i-want-to-be/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [You know, my music utilizes things from the past, because that's what the past is for. It's to learn from. It's not to limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/you-know-my-music-utilizes-things-from-the-past-because-that-s-what/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [From the town of Lincoln Nebraska with a sawed off .410 on my lap, through the Badlands of Wyoming I killed everything in my path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/from-the-town-of-lincoln-nebraska-with-a-sawed-off-410-on-my-lap/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I want a thousand guitars . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-want-a-thousand-guitars/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [In America everything's about who's number one today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/in-america-everything-s-about-who-s-number-one-today/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [A pop song is a condensed version of a life in three minutes, whereas, when you go to write your prose, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/a-pop-song-is-a-condensed-version-of-a-life-in-three-minutes-whereas/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I walked a thousand miles just to slip this skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-walked-a-thousand-miles-just-to-slip-this-skin/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The moment you begin to depend on audience reaction, you're doing the wrong thing. You're doin' it wrong, it's a mistake, it's not right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/the-moment-you-begin-to-depend-on-audience-reaction-you-re-doing-the/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The name 'Boss' started with people that worked for me... 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They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) Ioannes Amos Commenius > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) H.D. (Hilda Doolittle > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. 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