--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Smart people don't learn... because they…" description: "\"Smart people don't learn... because they have too much invested in proving what they know and avoiding being seen as not knowing.\" — Chris Argyris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/chris-argyris-51472_avoiding_smart-people-don-t-learn-because-they-ha_410746.png" --- # Smart people don't learn... because they have too much… ![“Smart people don't learn... because they have too much invested in proving what they know and avoiding being seen as not knowing.” quote by Chris Argyris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/chris-argyris-51472_avoiding_smart-people-don-t-learn-because-they-ha_410746.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/chris-argyris-51472_avoiding_smart-people-don-t-learn-because-they-ha_410746.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/chris-argyris-51472_avoiding_smart-people-don-t-learn-because-they-ha_410746.png) > “Smart people don't learn... because they have too much invested in proving what they know and avoiding being seen as not knowing.” [Chris Argyris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-argyris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People cling to their existing knowledge to protect self‑esteem, hindering true learning and growth. **In simple terms:** People avoid learning to protect ego. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and seek feedback. Themes ego learning growth self‑protection Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team meetings - performance reviews - personal development Key Concepts psychology organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How does protecting ego limit your progress? - What steps can you take to welcome uncertainty? A Different Perspective Overcoming fear of appearing ignorant can be socially risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avoiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding/) [Don Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-learn/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Know Avoiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-avoiding-3662455/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Not knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-knowing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [Proving Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proving-know-3662454/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Smart people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-people/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) ## Related quotes > [When you continue to give without receiving, the only thing you are proving is that you know how to be taken advantage of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/when-you-continue-to-give-without-receiving-the-only-thing-you-are/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [I don't do one-liners, because you don't learn anything about that comedian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-don-t-do-one-liners-because-you-don-t-learn-anything-about-that/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [How can you know it's the best, if you don't learn about anything else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/how-can-you-know-it-s-the-best-if-you-don-t-learn-about-anything-else/) [Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/) > [Our educational system in its entirety does nothing to give us any kind of material competence. In other words, we don't learn how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/our-educational-system-in-its-entirety-does-nothing-to-give-us-any/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [I don't learn so good, no matter how good the teacher is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-don-t-learn-so-good-no-matter-how-good-the-teacher-is/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [Why don't you learn from my mistakes? It takes half your life to learn from your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelagh-delaney/why-don-t-you-learn-from-my-mistakes-it-takes-half-your-life-to-learn/) [Shelagh Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelagh-delaney/) > [The only time you lose at something is when you don't learn from that experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/the-only-time-you-lose-at-something-is-when-you-don-t-learn-from-that/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [It's only a failure if you don't learn something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/it-s-only-a-failure-if-you-don-t-learn-something/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“If you don learn from others then others will learn from you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamzat-haruna-ribah/if-you-don-learn-from-others-then-others-will-learn-from-you/) [Hamzat haruna Ribah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamzat-haruna-ribah/) > [A mistake is only a mistake if you don't learn from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-mistake-is-only-a-mistake-if-you-don-t-learn-from-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you get up everyday and you don't learn you are a fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/if-you-get-up-everyday-and-you-don-t-learn-you-are-a-fool/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [A mistake is only really a mistake if you don't learn from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-mistake-is-only-really-a-mistake-if-you-don-t-learn-from-it/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Because you don't learn anything unless you can find the patience to read. TV takes that away from you. It robs you from your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/because-you-don-t-learn-anything-unless-you-can-find-the-patience-to/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [The truth is, if we don't learn to submit to authority, we won't ever learn to submit to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/the-truth-is-if-we-don-t-learn-to-submit-to-authority-we-won-t-ever/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [You don't learn from a situation where you do something well. You enjoy it and you give yourself credit, but you don't really learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/you-don-t-learn-from-a-situation-where-you-do-something-well-you/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) ## More by Chris Argyris > [Most people define learning too narrowly as mere 'problem-solving', so they focus on identifying and correcting errors in the external environment. Solving problems is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-argyris/most-people-define-learning-too-narrowly-as-mere-problem-solving-so/) [Chris Argyris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-argyris/) > [One must treat theory-in-use as both a psychological certainty and an intellectual hypothesis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-argyris/one-must-treat-theory-in-use-as-both-a-psychological-certainty-and-an/) [Chris Argyris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-argyris/) > [In fact, people themselves are responsible for making the status quo so resistant to change. We are trapped by our own behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-argyris/in-fact-people-themselves-are-responsible-for-making-the-status-quo/) [Chris Argyris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-argyris/) > [Managers who are skilled communicators may also be good at covering up real problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-argyris/managers-who-are-skilled-communicators-may-also-be-good-at-covering/) [Chris Argyris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-argyris/) > [Individual learning is a necessary but insufficient condition for organizational learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-argyris/individual-learning-is-a-necessary-but-insufficient-condition-for/) [Chris Argyris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-argyris/) > [Success in the marketplace increasingly depends on learning. Yet most people don't know how to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-argyris/success-in-the-marketplace-increasingly-depends-on-learning-yet-most/) [Chris Argyris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-argyris/) [Explore all 7 Chris Argyris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-argyris/) ## More Avoiding quotes > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [ I can hardly believe what these 12 caricatures \[about Prophet Muhammad\] have caused in the world. We Danes feel like we have been placed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-fogh-rasmussen/i-can-hardly-believe-what-these-12-caricatures-about-prophet-muhammad/) [Anders Fogh Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-fogh-rasmussen/) > [I know a bit about taxation and the remarkable effort that goes in to avoiding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/i-know-a-bit-about-taxation-and-the-remarkable-effort-that-goes-in-to/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [I don't believe in happy endings. Children have got to face death sooner or later. Granny and Grandpa die, dogs die, cats die, gerbils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-briggs/i-don-t-believe-in-happy-endings-children-have-got-to-face-death/) [Raymond Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-briggs/) > [Resisting and avoiding pain sucks energy-and time. The more you let yourself feel those minute-and-a-half hells, the quicker you'll start feeling those minute-and-a-half happinesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/resisting-and-avoiding-pain-sucks-energy-and-time-the-more-you-let/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/reading-is-sometimes-an-ingenious-device-for-avoiding-thought/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [A day can really slip by when you're deliberately avoiding what you're supposed to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/a-day-can-really-slip-by-when-you-re-deliberately-avoiding-what-you/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [When someone starts Ignoring you, just back off without staying there with them Just to know the reason for avoiding..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishak/when-someone-starts-ignoring-you-just-back-off-without-staying-there/) [Vishak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishak/) > [You know what takes effort? Being kind, being patient, being respectful, telling someone how you feel politely instead of just avoiding them for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/you-know-what-takes-effort-being-kind-being-patient-being-respectful/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [It's all about being flexible, and avoiding choices whenever possible. Choices suck, they are inherently limiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-armstrong/it-s-all-about-being-flexible-and-avoiding-choices-whenever-possible/) [Craig Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-armstrong/) > [In my personal life I'm very conservative. I've been married to the same person for nearly 50 years, I'm scrupulous about paying bills, avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/in-my-personal-life-i-m-very-conservative-i-ve-been-married-to-the/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) [Browse all 713 Avoiding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Smart people don't learn... because they have too much invested in proving what they know and avoiding being seen as not knowing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chris Argyris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-argyris/smart-people-don-t-learn-because-they-have-too-much-invested-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Avoiding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-argyris/smart-people-don-t-learn-because-they-have-too-much-invested-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/chris-argyris-51472_avoiding_smart-people-don-t-learn-because-they-ha_410746.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/chris-argyris-51472_avoiding_smart-people-don-t-learn-because-they-ha_410746.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/chris-argyris-51472_avoiding_smart-people-don-t-learn-because-they-ha_410746.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Smart people don't learn... because they have too much invested in proving what they know and avoiding being…” — Chris Argyris", "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": "Chris Argyris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-argyris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Smart people don't learn... because they...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-argyris/smart-people-don-t-learn-because-they-have-too-much-invested-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-argyris/smart-people-don-t-learn-because-they-have-too-much-invested-in/#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 } } ] } ```