--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never thought I was academically gifted…" description: "\"I never thought I was academically gifted at school. But when I started flying, I found you didn't need an academic mind - you just needed determinatio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/david-jason-5031_academically_i-never-thought-i-was-academically-gifte_3109878.jpg" --- # I never thought I was academically gifted at school. But… ![“I never thought I was academically gifted at school. But when I started flying, I found you didn't need an academic mind - you just needed determination and dedication.” quote by David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/david-jason-5031_academically_i-never-thought-i-was-academically-gifte_3109878.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/david-jason-5031_academically_i-never-thought-i-was-academically-gifte_3109878.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/david-jason-5031_academically_i-never-thought-i-was-academically-gifte_3109878.jpg) > “I never thought I was academically gifted at school. But when I started flying, I found you didn't need an academic mind - you just needed determination and dedication.” [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Academic knowledge isn’t essential for success; determination and dedication can substitute for formal intellect. **In simple terms:** Determination beats academic skill. Key Takeaway Cultivate perseverance and dedication. Themes determination dedication skill acquisition non‑traditional learning success Mood encouraging pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - learning a new hobby - career change - sports training - entrepreneurship Key Concepts growth mindset resilience practical experience Questions to Reflect On - Can dedication replace knowledge in your field? - What balance works for you? A Different Perspective May undervalue the benefits of formal education in complex fields. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dedication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dedication/) [Determination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know whether I much enjoyed education. I was not academically gifted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mawle/i-don-t-know-whether-i-much-enjoyed-education-i-was-not-academically/) [Joseph Mawle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mawle/) > [Unfortunately, hardworking, academically gifted young people are kind of lazy when it comes to determining direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/unfortunately-hardworking-academically-gifted-young-people-are-kind/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [I might not have been academically gifted - I was bad at maths, and science was a struggle - but I was good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-sharp/i-might-not-have-been-academically-gifted-i-was-bad-at-maths-and/) [Alex Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-sharp/) > [That is the trouble with flying: We always have to return to airports. Thank of how much fun flying would be if we didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mintzberg/that-is-the-trouble-with-flying-we-always-have-to-return-to-airports/) [Henry Mintzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mintzberg/) > [Boeing is working on an invisible fighter jet so nobody can see who's flying it. Didn't George Bush fly this in the National Guard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/boeing-is-working-on-an-invisible-fighter-jet-so-nobody-can-see-who-s/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [I was never good academically. It was mainly my own fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-was-never-good-academically-it-was-mainly-my-own-fault/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I was a nerd academically. But I was also an athlete and a musician. I never wanted to be shut out of any situation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-was-a-nerd-academically-but-i-was-also-an-athlete-and-a-musician-i/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I've always enjoyed real work more than schoolwork. My mother will attest to that - she was always concerned about me academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ulevitch/i-ve-always-enjoyed-real-work-more-than-schoolwork-my-mother-will/) [David Ulevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ulevitch/) > [I went to a very academically competitive high school. So I was always quite studious and quiet, just to keep up with the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-went-to-a-very-academically-competitive-high-school-so-i-was-always/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I have never gotten a B in my life. I would honestly be mortified if I got a B. I'm so academically driven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-gayle/i-have-never-gotten-a-b-in-my-life-i-would-honestly-be-mortified-if-i/) [Sami Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-gayle/) > [I was very academically inclined. But my inner life was in such turmoil. I'd go home and my home life was so miserable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-sohn/i-was-very-academically-inclined-but-my-inner-life-was-in-such/) [Sonja Sohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-sohn/) > [“I broke with the academic style because I decided that life is very short, very mysterious, and I didn't have the time to waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mev-puleo/i-broke-with-the-academic-style-because-i-decided-that-life-is-very/) [Mev Puleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mev-puleo/) > [Colgate is the epitome of having it both ways. Academically, it ranks in the top twenty schools in the country, but it is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/colgate-is-the-epitome-of-having-it-both-ways-academically-it-ranks/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [I am not an academic who happens to have written a novel. I am a novelist who happens to be quite good academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-am-not-an-academic-who-happens-to-have-written-a-novel-i-am-a/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [I never felt I was quite the ticket academically. I always felt I had to put in an enormous amount of effort not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/i-never-felt-i-was-quite-the-ticket-academically-i-always-felt-i-had/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) ## More by David Jason > [I hadn't been to drama school. I hadn't been to university and acted there. I had no qualifications behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-hadn-t-been-to-drama-school-i-hadn-t-been-to-university-and-acted/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I don't think I would ever have taken on professional acting roles if I hadn't had the ability to fly. I had quite low…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-don-t-think-i-would-ever-have-taken-on-professional-acting-roles-if/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [My mum, Olwen, was a bright and talkative woman who loved a gossip and a story and was given slightly to malapropisms. And she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/my-mum-olwen-was-a-bright-and-talkative-woman-who-loved-a-gossip-and/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I'm a qualified Professional Association of Diving Instructors Divemaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-m-a-qualified-professional-association-of-diving-instructors/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [My father used to say, 'What the hell are you listening to? Put that bloody rubbish off.' And it was The Beatles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/my-father-used-to-say-what-the-hell-are-you-listening-to-put-that/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I enjoy life so much I don't want it to end, and dying does worry me. If you've got faith, you believe that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-enjoy-life-so-much-i-don-t-want-it-to-end-and-dying-does-worry-me/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [Classic comedy is classic comedy, and it will go on for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/classic-comedy-is-classic-comedy-and-it-will-go-on-for-years/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I can be intolerant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-can-be-intolerant/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [It has taken a lot of persuasion for me to take part in an official documentary about 'Only Fools and Horses.' But, as time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/it-has-taken-a-lot-of-persuasion-for-me-to-take-part-in-an-official/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [Don't get me started on BBC salaries. We were never the big league. Situation comedy has always been the poor relation in the television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/don-t-get-me-started-on-bbc-salaries-we-were-never-the-big-league/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [In 1977, while I was performing in a play in Cardiff, a friend introduced me to a striking redhead called Myfanwy Talog, famed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/in-1977-while-i-was-performing-in-a-play-in-cardiff-a-friend/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I'm a twin, but only I emerged live from the womb. The fact that I was originally one half of a duo gave rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-m-a-twin-but-only-i-emerged-live-from-the-womb-the-fact-that-i-was/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [When I made my first decision, come hell or high water, that I would try to be a professional actor, I was burnt. Emotionally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/when-i-made-my-first-decision-come-hell-or-high-water-that-i-would/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [It seems to me that as soon as politicians get in, they become part of this club, and the rest of us, beneath them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/it-seems-to-me-that-as-soon-as-politicians-get-in-they-become-part-of/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [Journalists are out to trap me with my underwear showing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/journalists-are-out-to-trap-me-with-my-underwear-showing/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) [Explore all 104 David Jason quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) ## More Academically quotes > [I never felt I was quite the ticket academically. I always felt I had to put in an enormous amount of effort not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/i-never-felt-i-was-quite-the-ticket-academically-i-always-felt-i-had/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) > [I am not an academic who happens to have written a novel. I am a novelist who happens to be quite good academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-am-not-an-academic-who-happens-to-have-written-a-novel-i-am-a/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [Colgate is the epitome of having it both ways. Academically, it ranks in the top twenty schools in the country, but it is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/colgate-is-the-epitome-of-having-it-both-ways-academically-it-ranks/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [“I broke with the academic style because I decided that life is very short, very mysterious, and I didn't have the time to waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mev-puleo/i-broke-with-the-academic-style-because-i-decided-that-life-is-very/) [Mev Puleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mev-puleo/) > [I was very academically inclined. But my inner life was in such turmoil. I'd go home and my home life was so miserable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-sohn/i-was-very-academically-inclined-but-my-inner-life-was-in-such/) [Sonja Sohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-sohn/) > [I have never gotten a B in my life. I would honestly be mortified if I got a B. I'm so academically driven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-gayle/i-have-never-gotten-a-b-in-my-life-i-would-honestly-be-mortified-if-i/) [Sami Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-gayle/) > [I went to a very academically competitive high school. So I was always quite studious and quiet, just to keep up with the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-went-to-a-very-academically-competitive-high-school-so-i-was-always/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I've always enjoyed real work more than schoolwork. My mother will attest to that - she was always concerned about me academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ulevitch/i-ve-always-enjoyed-real-work-more-than-schoolwork-my-mother-will/) [David Ulevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ulevitch/) > [I was a nerd academically. But I was also an athlete and a musician. I never wanted to be shut out of any situation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-was-a-nerd-academically-but-i-was-also-an-athlete-and-a-musician-i/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I don't really know how music and comedy are similar. I try never to dissect it theoretically or academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/i-don-t-really-know-how-music-and-comedy-are-similar-i-try-never-to/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [I went to a private school, and I struggled academically. It was really disheartening to always be considered bad at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gia-coppola/i-went-to-a-private-school-and-i-struggled-academically-it-was-really/) [Gia Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gia-coppola/) > [Both my parents wanted me to excel academically, like every other parent. They wanted me to pursue my higher studies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-lekshmi/both-my-parents-wanted-me-to-excel-academically-like-every-other/) [Aishwarya Lekshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-lekshmi/) > [I wasn't academically successful. And maybe I've spent a lot of my career trying to make up for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/i-wasn-t-academically-successful-and-maybe-i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-my/) [Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/) > [Kids who don't play are not just at greater risk of falling behind academically, but also of becoming overweight or obese, failing to integrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/kids-who-don-t-play-are-not-just-at-greater-risk-of-falling-behind/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [Some people are academically inclined, some vocationally and we shouldn't penalise the latter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/some-people-are-academically-inclined-some-vocationally-and-we/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) Browse all 55 Academically quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never thought I was academically gifted at school. 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