--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a strong believer that you have to…" description: "\"I'm a strong believer that you have to have an equal opportunity to fail and to try things that are hard. I always tell my students, \"Don't just take t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/condoleezza-rice-807_believer_i-m-a-strong-believer-that-you-have-to-h_1941353.jpg" --- # I'm a strong believer that you have to have an equal… ![“I'm a strong believer that you have to have an equal opportunity to fail and to try things that are hard. I always tell my students, "Don't just take things that are easy for you. If you're really good at math, don't take just math. Take classes that make you write. If you're a really great…” quote by Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/condoleezza-rice-807_believer_i-m-a-strong-believer-that-you-have-to-h_1941353.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/condoleezza-rice-807_believer_i-m-a-strong-believer-that-you-have-to-h_1941353.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/condoleezza-rice-807_believer_i-m-a-strong-believer-that-you-have-to-h_1941353.jpg) > “I'm a strong believer that you have to have an equal opportunity to fail and to try things that are hard. I always tell my students, "Don't just take things that are easy for you. If you're really good at math, don't take just math. Take classes that make you write. If you're a really great writer, but bad at math, take math and make yourself work your way through it."” [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages seeking challenges beyond natural strengths to foster growth and resilience. **In simple terms:** Push beyond your comfort zone. Key Takeaway Embrace difficult tasks to grow. Themes growth challenge learning resilience education Mood motivational determined Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - college courses - career development - personal improvement Key Concepts growth mindset skill development disciplinary breadth Questions to Reflect On - What hard skill will you tackle next? - How does struggle improve mastery? A Different Perspective Avoiding only easy tasks can limit potential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-math-610449/) [Believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Equal opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-opportunity/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Good math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-math/) [Great writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-writers/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Math Classes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math-classes-868482/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Opportunity Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity-fail-639485/) [Really great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-great/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Things that are hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-that-are-hard/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“She’d been in math classes with Quentin since they were ten years old, and anything he could do she could do just as well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/she-d-been-in-math-classes-with-quentin-since-they-were-ten-years-old/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [In American math classes, we teach a lot of concepts poorly over many years. In the Asian systems they teach you very few concepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/in-american-math-classes-we-teach-a-lot-of-concepts-poorly-over-many/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [If you don't take enough math classes or science classes or writing intensive classes, you're not going to be prepared to compete in college…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-blagojevich/if-you-don-t-take-enough-math-classes-or-science-classes-or-writing/) [Rod Blagojevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-blagojevich/) > [When I originally entered UCLA, I had planned to go for a film major, but I kept finding myself taking math classes for fun,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/when-i-originally-entered-ucla-i-had-planned-to-go-for-a-film-major/) [Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/) > [Believe it or not, lots of people change their majors and abandon their dreams just to avoid a couple of math classes in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/believe-it-or-not-lots-of-people-change-their-majors-and-abandon/) [Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/) > [Most students who take math classes aren't going to be mathematicians. They're going to be engineers, statisticians - in many ways, that's the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-tao/most-students-who-take-math-classes-aren-t-going-to-be-mathematicians/) [Terence Tao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-tao/) > [When given the opportunity to fail myself or fail someone else, I choose to fail myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murphy/when-given-the-opportunity-to-fail-myself-or-fail-someone-else-i/) [James Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murphy/) > [“Every time we have opportunity and fail to live up to that truth which is within us, every time we fail to express a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/every-time-we-have-opportunity-and-fail-to-live-up-to-that-truth/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [I wanted to go to AEW and then I can sink or swim on my own merit. I have the opportunity to get over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darby-allin/i-wanted-to-go-to-aew-and-then-i-can-sink-or-swim-on-my-own-merit-i/) [Darby Allin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darby-allin/) > [If we don't give kids the opportunity to fail when they're growing up, and to fail productively, to fail creatively, that they're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/if-we-don-t-give-kids-the-opportunity-to-fail-when-they-re-growing-up/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [Faith causes changes. Anytime there is change, there is opportunity, including the opportunity to fail. But failing can be a step toward completion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/faith-causes-changes-anytime-there-is-change-there-is-opportunity/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [“Do you know the opportunity you get when you fail? It is starting again - an opportunity to perform better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogwo-david-emenike/do-you-know-the-opportunity-you-get-when-you-fail-it-is-starting/) [Ogwo David Emenike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogwo-david-emenike/) > [A "take" is an opportunity to fail ... and we think that we have to get it right all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/a-take-is-an-opportunity-to-fail-and-we-think-that-we-have-to-get-it/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [It's too easy to give up on the things that are hard to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-r-johnson/it-s-too-easy-to-give-up-on-the-things-that-are-hard-to-accomplish/) [C. R. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-r-johnson/) > [The deadlift also serves as a way to train the mind to do things that are hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rippetoe/the-deadlift-also-serves-as-a-way-to-train-the-mind-to-do-things-that/) [Mark Rippetoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rippetoe/) ## More by Condoleezza Rice > [The Iranian people have a proud past. They merit a great future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-iranian-people-have-a-proud-past-they-merit-a-great-future/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [It has been hard to muster the resources to support fledgling democracies and to intervene on behalf of the most desperate. The AIDS orphans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-has-been-hard-to-muster-the-resources-to-support-fledgling/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [We can't live true to our set of values unless American educational system is strong. I really believe that if we don't get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/we-can-t-live-true-to-our-set-of-values-unless-american-educational/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I remember at the time of 9/11 that there were women who went out of their way to escort Muslim women to grocery stores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-remember-at-the-time-of-9-11-that-there-were-women-who-went-out-of/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [The first step for a leader is to be right with yourself. Integrity is the basis of leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-first-step-for-a-leader-is-to-be-right-with-yourself-integrity-is/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [A lot is being done to bring additional protective measures, particularly the critical infrastructure locations around the United States, ... There is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/a-lot-is-being-done-to-bring-additional-protective-measures/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [You cannot be on one hand dedicated to peace and on the other dedicated to violence. Those two things are irreconcilable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/you-cannot-be-on-one-hand-dedicated-to-peace-and-on-the-other/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I'm not personally fearful, but I look out, and there are a number of things that concern me, and I'm hopeful that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-not-personally-fearful-but-i-look-out-and-there-are-a-number-of/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [ \[I'm\] very fortunate and blessed person who still has a lot of living to do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-very-fortunate-and-blessed-person-who-still-has-a-lot-of-living/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Football is like war. It's about taking territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/football-is-like-war-it-s-about-taking-territory/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I think there are plenty of men out there who are capable and accomplished in their own realm. You don't have to be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-think-there-are-plenty-of-men-out-there-who-are-capable-and/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I've always said as a political scientist that "culture" is what we use when we can't explain things. I think it's more about accessibility.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-ve-always-said-as-a-political-scientist-that-culture-is-what-we-use/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I believed Afghanistan was always going to be hard. It's the fifth poorest country in the world. And when you fly over it, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-believed-afghanistan-was-always-going-to-be-hard-it-s-the-fifth/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I'm very glad my mother didn't let me quit piano lessons at age 10. She said I wasn't old enough or good enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-very-glad-my-mother-didn-t-let-me-quit-piano-lessons-at-age-10/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [The idea the president of the United States was warned that Al-Qaeda was going to attack the United States and did nothing about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-idea-the-president-of-the-united-states-was-warned-that-al-qaeda/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) [Explore all 365 Condoleezza Rice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) ## More Believer quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [God has given believers the responsibility of spreading the Gospel to all the world, and we need to use all at our disposal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-epp/god-has-given-believers-the-responsibility-of-spreading-the-gospel-to/) [Theodore Epp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-epp/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [Jesus taught that the mark of the Christian is the observable love shown among all true believers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/jesus-taught-that-the-mark-of-the-christian-is-the-observable-love/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [I'm a great believer in people and their untapped potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-bester/i-m-a-great-believer-in-people-and-their-untapped-potential/) [Alfred Bester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-bester/) > [Revival is the Spirit's passion within the believer to know and to obey the total will of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/revival-is-the-spirit-s-passion-within-the-believer-to-know-and-to/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [I'm not a great believer in awards-of course the fact that I've never won one has nothing to do with it at all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/i-m-not-a-great-believer-in-awards-of-course-the-fact-that-i-ve-never/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [Intuitionists think that there are cases in which, say, some identity statement between real numbers is neither true nor false, even though we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-f-heck/intuitionists-think-that-there-are-cases-in-which-say-some-identity/) [Richard F. Heck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-f-heck/) > [The Bible is shallow enough for a new believer to wade in, but deep enough for a theologian to drown in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-j-lawson/the-bible-is-shallow-enough-for-a-new-believer-to-wade-in-but-deep/) [Steven J Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-j-lawson/) > [Christ is our temple, in whom by faith all believers meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-is-our-temple-in-whom-by-faith-all-believers-meet/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [The problem with Prosperity Theology is not that it promises too much, but that it aims for so little. What God promises us in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-mohler/the-problem-with-prosperity-theology-is-not-that-it-promises-too-much/) [Albert Mohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-mohler/) > [ I do not make decisions \[as governor\] based on what have I learned through my Bible studies, what have I learned in my religious… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-do-not-make-decisions-as-governor-based-on-what-have-i-learned/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I'm a great believer in life to saying yes and not saying no, and hopefully making people smile and just having fun in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-m-a-great-believer-in-life-to-saying-yes-and-not-saying-no-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) [Browse all 2,028 Believer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a strong believer that you have to have an equal opportunity to fail and to try things that are hard. 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