---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Looking back, I should have pursued…"
description: "\"Looking back, I should have pursued philosophy and economics and things of that sort in college more, but I didn't.\" — Dan Quayle"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/dan-quayle-1780_college_looking-back-i-should-have-pursued-philo_1605080.jpg"
---

#  Looking back, I should have pursued philosophy and…

![“Looking back, I should have pursued philosophy and economics and things of that sort in college more, but I didn't.” quote by Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/dan-quayle-1780_college_looking-back-i-should-have-pursued-philo_1605080.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/dan-quayle-1780_college_looking-back-i-should-have-pursued-philo_1605080.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/dan-quayle-1780_college_looking-back-i-should-have-pursued-philo_1605080.jpg)

> “Looking back, I should have pursued philosophy and economics and things of that sort in college more, but I didn't.”

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Regret over missed academic opportunities and the belief that different studies could have shaped his path.

**In simple terms:** He wishes he had studied philosophy and economics in college.

Key Takeaway

Consider exploring diverse fields early.

Themes

regret education career choices

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

advisory personal growth

When to use this quote

- college planning
- career counseling
- lifelong learning
- skill diversification

Key Concepts

humanities economics personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- What subjects could have changed your trajectory?
- How can you integrate those interests now?

A Different Perspective

May overlook practical experience and personal interests.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-back/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/)

## Related quotes

> [One of the profound effects of economics in our day is that the people with the money and the power have embraced the guilt-free,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/one-of-the-profound-effects-of-economics-in-our-day-is-that-the/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [In many ways, the effort to study philosophy was my rebellion away from medicine. I'm the son of two Indian immigrant physicians, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/in-many-ways-the-effort-to-study-philosophy-was-my-rebellion-away/)

[Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/)

> [“...If you look at mainstream economics there are three things you will not find in a mainstream economic model - Banks, Debt, and Money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-keen/if-you-look-at-mainstream-economics-there-are-three-things-you-will/)

[Steve Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-keen/)

> [Contract things are kind of tough to come up with, especially with both sides and kind of how the economics and all those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/contract-things-are-kind-of-tough-to-come-up-with-especially-with/)

[Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/)

> [Economics is not about things and tangible material objects; it is about men, their meanings and actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/economics-is-not-about-things-and-tangible-material-objects-it-is/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [Once I got to college, I didn't know defensive rotations; my footwork was sloppy. I used to travel every other play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-kuzma/once-i-got-to-college-i-didn-t-know-defensive-rotations-my-footwork/)

[Kyle Kuzma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-kuzma/)

> [I do regret that when I went to college, I didn't have a liberal arts education. I got a BFA in musical theater, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dubrow/i-do-regret-that-when-i-went-to-college-i-didn-t-have-a-liberal-arts/)

[Heather Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dubrow/)

> [I had gone to Oxford to read music. I had done music all my life, but when I got to college I didn't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/i-had-gone-to-oxford-to-read-music-i-had-done-music-all-my-life-but/)

[Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/)

> [I had tried to go to college, and I didn't really fit in. I went to a real narrow-minded school where people gave me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-had-tried-to-go-to-college-and-i-didn-t-really-fit-in-i-went-to-a/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I reached a time in college when I didn't know what I wanted to do. At that time, women's careers were essentially nursing, secretarial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-granger/i-reached-a-time-in-college-when-i-didn-t-know-what-i-wanted-to-do-at/)

[Kay Granger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-granger/)

> [I had to be - I was in school for probably three or four years before I began taking courses in history and political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-had-to-be-i-was-in-school-for-probably-three-or-four-years-before-i/)

[Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/)

> [Even though he lived on the beach in college, he didn't have a tan. Now that's a serious player!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-fitch/even-though-he-lived-on-the-beach-in-college-he-didn-t-have-a-tan-now/)

Bill Fitch

> [I didn't do great in school. I didn't have many options. I mean, I'd like to have gone to art college, but I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guido-palau/i-didn-t-do-great-in-school-i-didn-t-have-many-options-i-mean-i-d/)

[Guido Palau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guido-palau/)

> [Directors didn't know what to do with me in college. I didn't really sound like a belter. I didn't look like a soprano. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/directors-didn-t-know-what-to-do-with-me-in-college-i-didn-t-really/)

[Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/)

> [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/)

[Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/)

## More by Dan Quayle

> [This is what I say about the scorn of the media elite: I wear their scorn as a badge of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/this-is-what-i-say-about-the-scorn-of-the-media-elite-i-wear-their/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [We will invest in our people, quality education, job opportunity, family, neighborhood, and yes, a thing we call America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/we-will-invest-in-our-people-quality-education-job-opportunity-family/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [It's time for the human race to enter the solar system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/it-s-time-for-the-human-race-to-enter-the-solar-system/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [If Al Gore invented the Internet, I invented spell check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/if-al-gore-invented-the-internet-i-invented-spell-check/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [I want to be Robin to Bush's Batman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/i-want-to-be-robin-to-bush-s-batman/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [We lead in exporting jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/we-lead-in-exporting-jobs/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [The destruction, it is just very heart-rendering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/the-destruction-it-is-just-very-heart-rendering/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [Let me just be very clear that the Republican Party will select a nominee that will beat Bill Clinton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/let-me-just-be-very-clear-that-the-republican-party-will-select-a/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [The President scores much better than Bill Clinton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/the-president-scores-much-better-than-bill-clinton/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [I would guess that there's adequate low-income housing in the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/i-would-guess-that-there-s-adequate-low-income-housing-in-the-country/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [The U.S. victory in Gulf War was a stirring victory for the forces of aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/the-u-s-victory-in-gulf-war-was-a-stirring-victory-for-the-forces-of/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [The future will be better tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/the-future-will-be-better-tomorrow/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [There are lots more people in the House. I don't know exactly - I've never counted, but at least a couple hundred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/there-are-lots-more-people-in-the-house-i-don-t-know-exactly-i-ve/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [“Someday I intend to read all those books I've written.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/someday-i-intend-to-read-all-those-books-i-ve-written/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [I work with the president almost on a daily basis. I was with him until 6:30 last night. I'll be with him Thursday morning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/i-work-with-the-president-almost-on-a-daily-basis-i-was-with-him/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

[Explore all 208 Dan Quayle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

## More College quotes

> [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/)

[Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/)

> [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/)

[Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/)

> [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. 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/)

> [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/)

[Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/)

> [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/)

[Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/)

> [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/)

[John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/)

> [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/)

[Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/)

> [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/)

[K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/)

> [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/)

[Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/)

> [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/)

[Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/)

> [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/)

[Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/)

> [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/)

[Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/)

> [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/)

[Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/)

> [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/)

[Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/)

[Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Looking back, I should have pursued philosophy and economics and things of that sort in college more, but I didn't.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dan Quayle"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/looking-back-i-should-have-pursued-philosophy-and-economics-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "College"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/looking-back-i-should-have-pursued-philosophy-and-economics-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/dan-quayle-1780_college_looking-back-i-should-have-pursued-philo_1605080.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/dan-quayle-1780_college_looking-back-i-should-have-pursued-philo_1605080.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/dan-quayle-1780_college_looking-back-i-should-have-pursued-philo_1605080.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Looking back, I should have pursued philosophy and economics and things of that sort in college more, but I…” — Dan Quayle",
                "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": "Dan Quayle",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Looking back, I should have pursued...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/looking-back-i-should-have-pursued-philosophy-and-economics-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/looking-back-i-should-have-pursued-philosophy-and-economics-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
