--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would be remiss if I left the…" description: "\"I would be remiss if I left the impression that my life has been totally preoccupied with scholarly research.\" — Douglass North" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/douglass-north-23172_been_i-would-be-remiss-if-i-left-the-impressi_1084015.png" --- # I would be remiss if I left the impression that my life… ![“I would be remiss if I left the impression that my life has been totally preoccupied with scholarly research.” quote by Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/douglass-north-23172_been_i-would-be-remiss-if-i-left-the-impressi_1084015.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/douglass-north-23172_been_i-would-be-remiss-if-i-left-the-impressi_1084015.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/douglass-north-23172_been_i-would-be-remiss-if-i-left-the-impressi_1084015.png) > “I would be remiss if I left the impression that my life has been totally preoccupied with scholarly research.” [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges that his life isn’t solely defined by academic work. **In simple terms:** Not only research. Key Takeaway Balance scholarly work with other life aspects. Themes self‑reflection balance humility Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - teaching - public speaking - writing Key Concepts career identity personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How do you showcase non‑academic interests? - What value does a broader identity bring? A Different Perspective Scholars may still be perceived as single‑minded. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Impression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impression/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [My life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-life/) [Preoccupied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preoccupied/) [Preoccupied Scholarly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preoccupied-scholarly-2766947/) [Remiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remiss-157458/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Scholarly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholarly/) [Scholarly Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholarly-research-1395442/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Totally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totally/) [Totally Preoccupied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totally-preoccupied-2766948/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) ## Related quotes > [Almost all scholarly research carries practical and political implications. Better that we should spell these out ourselves than leave that task to people with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/almost-all-scholarly-research-carries-practical-and-political/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [“Notwithstanding the intense pressure on faculty members to publish, nationwide surveys indicate that they value teaching as highly as scholarly research.6 For every research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-m-christensen/notwithstanding-the-intense-pressure-on-faculty-members-to-publish/) [Clayton M. Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-m-christensen/) > [I would be remiss when talking about beauty secrets to not say that one of the best is to care about the world around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-brinkley/i-would-be-remiss-when-talking-about-beauty-secrets-to-not-say-that/) [Christie Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-brinkley/) > [It's not a science when you are judging art, but we'd be remiss to say you can't look at something and say, 'This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/it-s-not-a-science-when-you-are-judging-art-but-we-d-be-remiss-to-say/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [When you make movies, you have to be preoccupied with the social problems, otherwise there is no point in making a movie. To have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-dumont/when-you-make-movies-you-have-to-be-preoccupied-with-the-social/) [Bruno Dumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-dumont/) > [“I'm more preoccupied with furnishing my head than the place where I live. The most beautiful rooms I have entered have been empty ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/i-m-more-preoccupied-with-furnishing-my-head-than-the-place-where-i/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [Consider any individual at any period of his life, and you will always find him preoccupied with fresh plans to increase his comfort. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/consider-any-individual-at-any-period-of-his-life-and-you-will-always/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Of course, you see your body changing as you age, but it's more important to live than be too preoccupied with that sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-bisset/of-course-you-see-your-body-changing-as-you-age-but-it-s-more/) [Jacqueline Bisset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-bisset/) > [“But like many who are lonely, I was more preoccupied with others than were those who lived to socialize...Everyone I hated was always with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arbinger-institute/but-like-many-who-are-lonely-i-was-more-preoccupied-with-others-than/) [Arbinger Institute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arbinger-institute/) > [When you stand up there and do a press conference, it's a very preoccupied moment. You're standing in front of cameras; people are watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-quinn/when-you-stand-up-there-and-do-a-press-conference-it-s-a-very/) [Christine Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-quinn/) > [I think there is a rage against women. I've come to see that now although at the time I did not notice it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-young/i-think-there-is-a-rage-against-women-i-ve-come-to-see-that-now/) [Marguerite Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-young/) > [To keep yourself preoccupied, thousand excuses.but havent reason to meet themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/to-keep-yourself-preoccupied-thousand-excuses-but-havent-reason-to/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Everywhere I go, everyone I talk with, everyone I think about - their salvation is what is on my mind. I love fellowship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cameron/everywhere-i-go-everyone-i-talk-with-everyone-i-think-about-their/) [Kirk Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cameron/) > [Without deadlines and restrictions I just tend to become preoccupied with other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/without-deadlines-and-restrictions-i-just-tend-to-become-preoccupied/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I feel domesticity just slipping off me. It is a choice. Either one can let it go or one can intensify it. The people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/i-feel-domesticity-just-slipping-off-me-it-is-a-choice-either-one-can/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) ## More by Douglass North > [I went back to graduate school with the clear intention that what I wanted to do with my life was to improve societies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/i-went-back-to-graduate-school-with-the-clear-intention-that-what-i/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [To predict the future we would have to know today what we will learn tomorrow which will shape our future actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/to-predict-the-future-we-would-have-to-know-today-what-we-will-learn/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [The evolution of government from its medieval, Mafia-like character to that embodying modern legal institutions and instruments is a major part of the history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/the-evolution-of-government-from-its-medieval-mafia-like-character-to/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [I went to elementary school in Ottawa, and then to a private secondary school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/i-went-to-elementary-school-in-ottawa-and-then-to-a-private-secondary/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [Information costs are reduced by the existence of large numbers of buyers and sellers. Under these conditions, prices embody the same information that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/information-costs-are-reduced-by-the-existence-of-large-numbers-of/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [My early work and publications centered around expanding on the analysis of life insurance in my dissertation and its relationship to investment banking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/my-early-work-and-publications-centered-around-expanding-on-the/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [Conformity can be costly in a world of uncertainty which requires innovative institutional creation because no one can know the right path to survival.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/conformity-can-be-costly-in-a-world-of-uncertainty-which-requires/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [When it came time to go to college, I had been accepted for Harvard when my father was offered the position of head of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/when-it-came-time-to-go-to-college-i-had-been-accepted-for-harvard/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [In 1972 I married again, to Elisabeth Case; she continues to be wife, companion, critic and editor: a partner in the projects and programs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/in-1972-i-married-again-to-elisabeth-case-she-continues-to-be-wife/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [The development of a political-economic framework to explore long-run institutional change occupied me during all of the 1980s and led to the publication of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/the-development-of-a-political-economic-framework-to-explore-long-run/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [I continue to be a photographer; I have enjoyed fishing and hunting with a close friend; and have owned two ranches, first in northern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/i-continue-to-be-a-photographer-i-have-enjoyed-fishing-and-hunting/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [My brother and sister are both older than I am and were born before my father went off to World War I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/my-brother-and-sister-are-both-older-than-i-am-and-were-born-before/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [I learned to fly an airplane, and had my own airplane during the 1960s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/i-learned-to-fly-an-airplane-and-had-my-own-airplane-during-the-1960s/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [I was opposed to World War II, and indeed on June 22, 1941 when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union I suddenly found myself the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/i-was-opposed-to-world-war-ii-and-indeed-on-june-22-1941-when-hitler/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [I had hoped to go to law school, but the war started, and because of the strong feeling that I did not want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/i-had-hoped-to-go-to-law-school-but-the-war-started-and-because-of/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) [Explore all 26 Douglass North quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [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/) [Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would be remiss if I left the impression that my life has been totally preoccupied with scholarly research.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglass North" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/i-would-be-remiss-if-i-left-the-impression-that-my-life-has-been/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Been" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/i-would-be-remiss-if-i-left-the-impression-that-my-life-has-been/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/douglass-north-23172_been_i-would-be-remiss-if-i-left-the-impressi_1084015.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/douglass-north-23172_been_i-would-be-remiss-if-i-left-the-impressi_1084015.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/douglass-north-23172_been_i-would-be-remiss-if-i-left-the-impressi_1084015.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would be remiss if I left the impression that my life has been totally preoccupied with scholarly research.” — Douglass North", "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": "Douglass North", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would be remiss if I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/i-would-be-remiss-if-i-left-the-impression-that-my-life-has-been/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/i-would-be-remiss-if-i-left-the-impression-that-my-life-has-been/#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 } } ] } ```