---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Learning should take place when it is…"
description: "\"Learning should take place when it is needed, when the learner is interested, not according to some arbitrary, fixed schedule\" — Donald A. Norman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/donald-a-norman-6862_arbitrary_learning-should-take-place-when-it-is-ne_2888428.jpg"
---

#  Learning should take place when it is needed, when the…

![“Learning should take place when it is needed, when the learner is interested, not according to some arbitrary, fixed schedule” quote by Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/donald-a-norman-6862_arbitrary_learning-should-take-place-when-it-is-ne_2888428.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/donald-a-norman-6862_arbitrary_learning-should-take-place-when-it-is-ne_2888428.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/donald-a-norman-6862_arbitrary_learning-should-take-place-when-it-is-ne_2888428.jpg)

> “Learning should take place when it is needed, when the learner is interested, not according to some arbitrary, fixed schedule”

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

## About This Quote

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

Advocates that learning should be driven by need and interest, not rigid schedules, emphasizing learner‑centered timing.

**In simple terms:** Learn when needed and interested.

Key Takeaway

Design learning around curiosity.

Themes

education design motivation

Mood

thoughtful practical

Type

educational design

When to use this quote

- curriculum planning
- self‑directed study

Key Concepts

intrinsic motivation learner autonomy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can educators balance structure and flexibility?
- What tools support interest‑driven learning?

A Different Perspective

Rigid timetables can ignore individual readiness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Learners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learners/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Schedules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schedules/)

## Related quotes

> [Learning can take place in the backyard if there is a human being there who cares about the child. Before learning computers, children should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dixie-carter/learning-can-take-place-in-the-backyard-if-there-is-a-human-being/)

[Dixie Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dixie-carter/)

> [“Just as the bird needs wings to fly, a leader needs useful information to flow. Leaders learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/just-as-the-bird-needs-wings-to-fly-a-leader-needs-useful-information/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [Everyone who's a success, is a continual learner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/everyone-who-s-a-success-is-a-continual-learner/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [A successful learner, . . . must be constrained to draw some conclusions from the input and not others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/a-successful-learner-must-be-constrained-to-draw-some-conclusions/)

[Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/)

> [The question to ask is not whether you are a success or a failure, but whether you are a learner or a nonlearner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-barber/the-question-to-ask-is-not-whether-you-are-a-success-or-a-failure-but/)

[Benjamin Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-barber/)

> [I'm a very bad student, but a great learner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-allen/i-m-a-very-bad-student-but-a-great-learner/)

[Tim Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-allen/)

> [Every student has the ability to be a successful learner,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-harding/every-student-has-the-ability-to-be-a-successful-learner/)

[Warren G. Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-harding/)

> [All learning is in the learner, not the teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/all-learning-is-in-the-learner-not-the-teacher/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [I'm not the angry, rebellious child that I was. You can remain a child for a long time. I certainly did. I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-davis/i-m-not-the-angry-rebellious-child-that-i-was-you-can-remain-a-child/)

[Patti Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-davis/)

> [To be a teacher in the right sense is to be a learner. I am not a teacher, only a fellow student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/to-be-a-teacher-in-the-right-sense-is-to-be-a-learner-i-am-not-a/)

[Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/)

> [I am convinced that the best learning takes place when the learner takes charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-papert/i-am-convinced-that-the-best-learning-takes-place-when-the-learner/)

[Seymour Papert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-papert/)

> [The learner should be actively involved in the learning process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-knowles/the-learner-should-be-actively-involved-in-the-learning-process/)

Malcolm Knowles

> [When I was learned, knowledge was everything. Now that I'm a learner, kindness is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-sweet/when-i-was-learned-knowledge-was-everything-now-that-i-m-a-learner/)

[Leonard Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-sweet/)

> [I was in school - I was a good learner; if I wanted to get something done, I could get it done. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/i-was-in-school-i-was-a-good-learner-if-i-wanted-to-get-something/)

[Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/)

> [The teachers are everywhere. What is wanted is a learner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-teachers-are-everywhere-what-is-wanted-is-a-learner/)

[Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/)

## More by Donald A. Norman

> [“key to winning the race is not to compete against machines but to compete with machines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/key-to-winning-the-race-is-not-to-compete-against-machines-but-to/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [ Hypertext makes a virtue out of lack of organization, allowing ideas and thoughts to be juxtaposed at will. \[...\] The advent of hypertext is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/hypertext-makes-a-virtue-out-of-lack-of-organization-allowing-ideas/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [We delude ourselves if we believe that skilled behavior is easy, that it can come about without effort. We forget the years of tuning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/we-delude-ourselves-if-we-believe-that-skilled-behavior-is-easy-that/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [“Could we ever switch to this or any of the many other rational systems? Unlikely: tradition is difficult to overcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/could-we-ever-switch-to-this-or-any-of-the-many-other-rational/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [People Propose, Science Studies, Technology Conforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/people-propose-science-studies-technology-conforms/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [“If designers and researchers do not sometimes fail, it is a sign that they are not trying hard enough—they are not thinking the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/if-designers-and-researchers-do-not-sometimes-fail-it-is-a-sign-that/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [What makes something simple or complex? It's not the number of dials or controls or how many features it has: It is whether the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/what-makes-something-simple-or-complex-it-s-not-the-number-of-dials/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [Only the most sophisticated of beings can lie and cheat, and get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/only-the-most-sophisticated-of-beings-can-lie-and-cheat-and-get-away/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [Any time you see signs or labels added to a device, it is an indication of bad design: a simple lock should not require…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/any-time-you-see-signs-or-labels-added-to-a-device-it-is-an/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [Good design is also an act of communication between the designer and the user, except that all the communication has to come about by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/good-design-is-also-an-act-of-communication-between-the-designer-and/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [“We need to remove the word failure from our vocabulary, replacing it instead with learning experience. To fail is to learn: we learn more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/we-need-to-remove-the-word-failure-from-our-vocabulary-replacing-it/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [When I use a direct manipulation system whether for text editing, drawing pictures, or creating and playing games I do think of myself not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/when-i-use-a-direct-manipulation-system-whether-for-text-editing/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [“Radical innovation is what many people seek, for it is the big, spectacular form of change. But most radical ideas fail, and even those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/radical-innovation-is-what-many-people-seek-for-it-is-the-big/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [Technology usually provides a series of tradeoffs. Each asset is offset by a deficit...A major problem occurs when those who suffer from technology's defecits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/technology-usually-provides-a-series-of-tradeoffs-each-asset-is/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

> [Simplification is as much in the mind as it is in the device.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/simplification-is-as-much-in-the-mind-as-it-is-in-the-device/)

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

[Explore all 97 Donald A. Norman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

## More Arbitrary quotes

> [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/)

[John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/)

> [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/)

Edward Einhorn

> [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/)

[Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/)

> [Not to be offensive, not to be capricious, not to be arbitrary, not to be neurotic, not to be an actor outer, you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hurt/not-to-be-offensive-not-to-be-capricious-not-to-be-arbitrary-not-to/)

[William Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurt/)

> [I don't concern myself with thinking ahead to the finished product. I focus more specifically on what the character is experiencing. Once you relieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-thinking-ahead-to-the-finished-product-i/)

[Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/)

> [Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-master-for-me-to-submit-to/)

[Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/)

> [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/)

[Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/)

> [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. Arbitrary detention, torture and discrimination hurt the human dignity of anybody, whatever his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/contrary-to-what-certain-governments-say-human-rights-are-universal/)

[Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/)

> [What causes adolescents to rebel is not the assertion of authority but the arbitrary use of power, with little explanation of the rules and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/what-causes-adolescents-to-rebel-is-not-the-assertion-of-authority/)

[Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/)

> [There is something on earth greater than arbitrary or despotic power. The lightning has its power, and the whirlwind has its power, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/there-is-something-on-earth-greater-than-arbitrary-or-despotic-power/)

[Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/)

> [“nothing is arbitrary in this whole world, there is a good reason behind each and everything…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-kumar/nothing-is-arbitrary-in-this-whole-world-there-is-a-good-reason/)

Nikhil Kumar

> [Fundamentally, adopting rules without any estimate of the impact is the height of arbitrary decision-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-rielly/fundamentally-adopting-rules-without-any-estimate-of-the-impact-is/)

[Michael O'Rielly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-rielly/)

> [No arbitrary regulation, no act of the legislature, can add anything to the capital of the country; it can only force it into artificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ramsay-mcculloch/no-arbitrary-regulation-no-act-of-the-legislature-can-add-anything-to/)

John Ramsay McCulloch

> [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

Browse all 529 Arbitrary quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Learning should take place when it is needed, when the learner is interested, not according to some arbitrary, fixed schedule",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Donald A. Norman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/learning-should-take-place-when-it-is-needed-when-the-learner-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Arbitrary"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/learning-should-take-place-when-it-is-needed-when-the-learner-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/donald-a-norman-6862_arbitrary_learning-should-take-place-when-it-is-ne_2888428.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/donald-a-norman-6862_arbitrary_learning-should-take-place-when-it-is-ne_2888428.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/donald-a-norman-6862_arbitrary_learning-should-take-place-when-it-is-ne_2888428.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Learning should take place when it is needed, when the learner is interested, not according to some…” — Donald A. Norman",
                "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": "Donald A. Norman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Learning should take place when it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/learning-should-take-place-when-it-is-needed-when-the-learner-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/learning-should-take-place-when-it-is-needed-when-the-learner-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
