--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My parents were not formally educated…" description: "\"My parents were not formally educated. Both were cognizant of the importance of education. The teachers and ministers were the role models, and they wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/david-c-driskell-23547_cognizant_my-parents-were-not-formally-educated-bo_2008762.jpg" --- # My parents were not formally educated. Both were cognizant… ![“My parents were not formally educated. Both were cognizant of the importance of education. The teachers and ministers were the role models, and they would say, you should want to be like Miss Gardiner, you should want to be like Mr. Freeman, or be like your dad. Shun the people who don't value…” quote by David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/david-c-driskell-23547_cognizant_my-parents-were-not-formally-educated-bo_2008762.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/david-c-driskell-23547_cognizant_my-parents-were-not-formally-educated-bo_2008762.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/david-c-driskell-23547_cognizant_my-parents-were-not-formally-educated-bo_2008762.jpg) > “My parents were not formally educated. Both were cognizant of the importance of education. The teachers and ministers were the role models, and they would say, you should want to be like Miss Gardiner, you should want to be like Mr. Freeman, or be like your dad. Shun the people who don't value education.” [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Education is valued when role models embody it; avoid those who dismiss it. **In simple terms:** Seek mentors who champion learning. Key Takeaway Choose influences that prioritize education. Themes education role models values Mood inspirational determined Type motivational practical When to use this quote - school enrollment - family discussions - community workshops Key Concepts social learning intergenerational influence Questions to Reflect On - Who in your life models education? - How can you support those who undervalue learning? A Different Perspective May undervalue alternative learning paths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Importance of education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance-of-education/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Role models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-models/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Value of education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-of-education/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [No one but people like me can understand the importance of education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/no-one-but-people-like-me-can-understand-the-importance-of-education/) [Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/) > [“Washington dwelt upon the transcendent importance of education underscores the stigma that he felt about having missed college. As president, he lectured a young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/washington-dwelt-upon-the-transcendent-importance-of-education/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [My parents believed in the importance of education, but beyond that they were pretty relaxed. My brother and I weren't expected to become lawyers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-crenn/my-parents-believed-in-the-importance-of-education-but-beyond-that/) [Dominique Crenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-crenn/) > [I really make sure that my girls understand the importance of education. I don't want them to be spoilt and only know private school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendi-deng-murdoch/i-really-make-sure-that-my-girls-understand-the-importance-of-2/) [Wendi Deng Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendi-deng-murdoch/) > [My parents always stressed the importance of education, working hard in school and learning as much as possible. They also encouraged me to value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/my-parents-always-stressed-the-importance-of-education-working-hard/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [In view of the importance of education, Punjab government is making all-out efforts for the promotion of education throughout the province.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shehbaz-sharif/in-view-of-the-importance-of-education-punjab-government-is-making/) [Shehbaz Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shehbaz-sharif/) > [I've always believed in the importance of education and continuing to learn throughout every stage of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhtar-kent/i-ve-always-believed-in-the-importance-of-education-and-continuing-to/) [Muhtar Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhtar-kent/) > [As a child I experienced firsthand the severe effects of poverty and illiteracy, especially upon women and children. My parents taught me the importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/as-a-child-i-experienced-firsthand-the-severe-effects-of-poverty-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [The importance of education is ingrained in Scottish history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/the-importance-of-education-is-ingrained-in-scottish-history/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [I really make sure that my girls understand the importance of education. I don't want them to be spoilt and only know private-school kids.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendi-deng-murdoch/i-really-make-sure-that-my-girls-understand-the-importance-of/) [Wendi Deng Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendi-deng-murdoch/) > [The importance of education plays a huge role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/the-importance-of-education-plays-a-huge-role/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [No one can take it away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/no-one-can-take-it-away-from-you/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [“Whether one is formally educated or self educated; the cornerstone of success is education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-foster/whether-one-is-formally-educated-or-self-educated-the-cornerstone-of/) Will Foster > [Even when I became cognizant of this societal problem in this country, I asked my father and my mother if they knew anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/even-when-i-became-cognizant-of-this-societal-problem-in-this-country/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [We were told, no, you don't do. There was this high standard of morals and a sense of responsibility. That didn't mean that everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/we-were-told-no-you-don-t-do-there-was-this-high-standard-of-morals/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) ## More by David C. Driskell > [I know my grandfather drank occasionally socially, what we call "taking a sip." And my father never touched the bottle. He condemned my grandfather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/i-know-my-grandfather-drank-occasionally-socially-what-we-call-taking/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [We were told, no, you don't do. There was this high standard of morals and a sense of responsibility. That didn't mean that everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/we-were-told-no-you-don-t-do-there-was-this-high-standard-of-morals/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [I established relationships with so many of those Iran students that went on for years.And they were so different from American students. They seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/i-established-relationships-with-so-many-of-those-iran-students-that/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [That emphasis, from my parents, was always, "if you want something different from this" - they didn't say "better than this," because I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/that-emphasis-from-my-parents-was-always-if-you-want-something/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [Mary O'Neal used to say that I was teaching her course in disguise, as she said "in cultural disguise." What she meant was that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/mary-o-neal-used-to-say-that-i-was-teaching-her-course-in-disguise-as/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [I always said, you have to have a goal and an objective in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/i-always-said-you-have-to-have-a-goal-and-an-objective-in-life/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [Personally, I think that my father's ministry does have some effect on one. I perhaps thought I wasn't listening that well, but I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/personally-i-think-that-my-father-s-ministry-does-have-some-effect-on/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [My students used to say, one such as Mary O'Neal, that I identified the students by their boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. That was the way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/my-students-used-to-say-one-such-as-mary-o-neal-that-i-identified-the/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [James Porter said to me once, when I was talking about painting, he said, well, that's fine, he said, but you have a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/james-porter-said-to-me-once-when-i-was-talking-about-painting-he/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [There was a young man in our community who said he wanted to be a minister, and my father was trying to mentor him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/there-was-a-young-man-in-our-community-who-said-he-wanted-to-be-a/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [When I became a professional and fully understood what was going on, I knew that with all the love and care and mentorship that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/when-i-became-a-professional-and-fully-understood-what-was-going-on-i/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [There was no real gender definition in the sense of how you treat people in those days with gender differences. You avoided them. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/there-was-no-real-gender-definition-in-the-sense-of-how-you-treat/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [I think I got from my father and my mother a sense of morality, of the do's and don't's in society; the notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/i-think-i-got-from-my-father-and-my-mother-a-sense-of-morality-of-the/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [There was this judgmental sense of what was good and what was bad in my father's words. You couldn't necessarily shut the people out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/there-was-this-judgmental-sense-of-what-was-good-and-what-was-bad-in/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [I remember an experience once of a young man in our home who was gay. We just assumed it, based on his outward appearance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/i-remember-an-experience-once-of-a-young-man-in-our-home-who-was-gay/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) [Explore all 25 David C. Driskell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) ## More Cognizant quotes > [We have to be cognizant of the fact that they've had foreign fighters coming to volunteer for them, foreign money, foreign weapons, so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-have-to-be-cognizant-of-the-fact-that-they-ve-had-foreign-fighters/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I feel blessed to be able to do these events. 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There was this high standard of morals and a sense of responsibility. That didn't mean that everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/we-were-told-no-you-don-t-do-there-was-this-high-standard-of-morals/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [“Plants are not cognizant. When we cut a leaf, we assume that the plant is suffering. But that's our own anthropomorphism about what's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-chamovitz/plants-are-not-cognizant-when-we-cut-a-leaf-we-assume-that-the-plant/) [Daniel Chamovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-chamovitz/) > [You've got to be very cognizant of the correlation between social media links and business because they don't always correlate as highly as people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/you-ve-got-to-be-very-cognizant-of-the-correlation-between-social/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [ People think Paris \[Hilton\] is a ditzy blond, and I don't want to blow it for her, but she plays it really well. 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