--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not ask if a man has been through…" description: "\"Do not ask if a man has been through college; ask if a college has been through him; if he is a walking university.\" — Edwin Hubbel Chapin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/edwin-hubbel-chapin-1652_asks_do-not-ask-if-a-man-has-been-through-col_1133931.png" --- # Do not ask if a man has been through college; ask if a… ![“Do not ask if a man has been through college; ask if a college has been through him; if he is a walking university.” quote by Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/edwin-hubbel-chapin-1652_asks_do-not-ask-if-a-man-has-been-through-col_1133931.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/edwin-hubbel-chapin-1652_asks_do-not-ask-if-a-man-has-been-through-col_1133931.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/edwin-hubbel-chapin-1652_asks_do-not-ask-if-a-man-has-been-through-col_1133931.png) > “Do not ask if a man has been through college; ask if a college has been through him; if he is a walking university.” [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Assess institutions by their impact on individuals, not just credentials. **In simple terms:** Judge schools by how they shape people. Key Takeaway Seek education that transforms you. Themes education critical thinking personal growth Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical thought‑provoking When to use this quote - college selection - adult education - self‑directed learning Key Concepts institutional critique human development Questions to Reflect On - What qualities make an institution truly transformative? - How can individuals shape their own learning? A Different Perspective Institutions may still hold value despite flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-college-3129604/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-ask-3129601/) [College Walking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-walking-3129602/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Man College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-college-430137/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [Walking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking/) [Walking University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking-university-3129603/) ## Related quotes > [People would ask what college are you going to, and I'd say, 'San Diego State.' And they'd say, 'Why?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kawhi-leonard/people-would-ask-what-college-are-you-going-to-and-i-d-say-san-diego/) [Kawhi Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kawhi-leonard/) > [“Life is more than a job; jobs are more than a paycheck; and a country is more than its wealth. Education is more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-deresiewicz/life-is-more-than-a-job-jobs-are-more-than-a-paycheck-and-a-country/) [William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-deresiewicz/) > [I used to walk around saying that I'm just another black man without a college degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-blair/i-used-to-walk-around-saying-that-i-m-just-another-black-man-without/) [Jayson Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-blair/) > [A man who cannot think is not an educated man however many college degrees he may have acquired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/a-man-who-cannot-think-is-not-an-educated-man-however-many-college/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Every man should have a college education in order to show him how little the thing is really worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/every-man-should-have-a-college-education-in-order-to-show-him-how/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [A man's college and university degrees mean nothing to me until I see what he is able to do with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/a-man-s-college-and-university-degrees-mean-nothing-to-me-until-i-see/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [My undergraduate studies at Brown and graduate degrees from Harvard prepared me for a multifaceted career as an actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/my-undergraduate-studies-at-brown-and-graduate-degrees-from-harvard/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [In the summer we graduated we flipped out completely, drinking beer, cruising in our cars and beating up each other. It was a crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/in-the-summer-we-graduated-we-flipped-out-completely-drinking-beer/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [When one considers our nation's educational foundations - Harvard, Yale, Princeton and most of our respected institutions were originally Christian - it becomes evident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-falwell/when-one-considers-our-nation-s-educational-foundations-harvard-yale/) [Jonathan Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-falwell/) > [“Only one-third of college students from the bottom quarter of households graduate, while two-thirds of students from the top quarter do. Both ability and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temin/only-one-third-of-college-students-from-the-bottom-quarter-of/) [Peter Temin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temin/) > [Just wanted to congratulate myself on sitting through your graduation ceremony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-wanted-to-congratulate-myself-on-sitting-through-your-graduation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My graduation speech: I would like to thank wikipedia, copy and paste. I'm out peeps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brookelle-willcox/my-graduation-speech-i-would-like-to-thank-wikipedia-copy-and-paste-i/) [Brookelle Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brookelle-willcox/) > [A much as I say I'm ready to graduate I know I'm going to miss high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-much-as-i-say-i-m-ready-to-graduate-i-know-i-m-going-to-miss-high/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it sure has earned a lot of people graduate degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-irving/curiosity-may-have-killed-the-cat-but-it-sure-has-earned-a-lot-of/) [Robyn Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-irving/) > [Each year more than 100,000 high school graduates, with proved ability, do not enter college because they cannot afford it. And if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/each-year-more-than-100-000-high-school-graduates-with-proved-ability/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) ## More by Edwin Hubbel Chapin > [In the history of man it has been very generally the case that when evils have grown insufferable they have touched the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/in-the-history-of-man-it-has-been-very-generally-the-case-that-when/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Life, whether in this world or any other, is the sum of our attainment, our experience, our character. The conditions are secondary. In what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/life-whether-in-this-world-or-any-other-is-the-sum-of-our-attainment/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [No man knows the genuineness of his convictions until he has sacrificed something for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/no-man-knows-the-genuineness-of-his-convictions-until-he-has/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Our life is what we make it. An insignificant game or a noble trial; a dream or a reality; a play of the senses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/our-life-is-what-we-make-it-an-insignificant-game-or-a-noble-trial-a/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Setting is preliminary to brighter rising; decay is a process of advancement; death is the condition of higher and more fruitful life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/setting-is-preliminary-to-brighter-rising-decay-is-a-process-of/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Life itself suggests a higher good than life itself can yield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/life-itself-suggests-a-higher-good-than-life-itself-can-yield/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [A true man never frets about his place in the world, but just slides into it by the gravitation of his nature, and swings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/a-true-man-never-frets-about-his-place-in-the-world-but-just-slides/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [There is but a slight difference between the man who may be said to know nothing and him who thinks he knows everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/there-is-but-a-slight-difference-between-the-man-who-may-be-said-to/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [The bosom can ache beneath diamond brooches; and many a blithe heart dances under coarse wool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/the-bosom-can-ache-beneath-diamond-brooches-and-many-a-blithe-heart/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Can you conceive of anything that so represents the glory, and truth, and marvelousness of God's nature as the idea of peace?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/can-you-conceive-of-anything-that-so-represents-the-glory-and-truth/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [The gospel has but a forced alliance with war. Its doctrine of human brotherhood would ring strangely between the opposed ranks. The bellowing speech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/the-gospel-has-but-a-forced-alliance-with-war-its-doctrine-of-human/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother's love. It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/no-language-can-express-the-power-and-beauty-and-heroism-and-majesty/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [It is not enjoined upon us to forget, but we are told to forgive, our enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/it-is-not-enjoined-upon-us-to-forget-but-we-are-told-to-forgive-our/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Think for a moment of the great agents and engines of our civilization, and then think what shadowy ideas they all once were. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/think-for-a-moment-of-the-great-agents-and-engines-of-our/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [There is a sweet anguish springing up in our bosoms when a child's face brightens under the shadow of the waiting angel. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/there-is-a-sweet-anguish-springing-up-in-our-bosoms-when-a-child-s/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) [Explore all 219 Edwin Hubbel Chapin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. 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If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) [Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do not ask if a man has been through college; ask if a college has been through him; if he is a walking university.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edwin Hubbel Chapin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/do-not-ask-if-a-man-has-been-through-college-ask-if-a-college-has/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/do-not-ask-if-a-man-has-been-through-college-ask-if-a-college-has/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/edwin-hubbel-chapin-1652_asks_do-not-ask-if-a-man-has-been-through-col_1133931.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/edwin-hubbel-chapin-1652_asks_do-not-ask-if-a-man-has-been-through-col_1133931.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/edwin-hubbel-chapin-1652_asks_do-not-ask-if-a-man-has-been-through-col_1133931.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do not ask if a man has been through college; ask if a college has been through him; if he is a walking…” — Edwin Hubbel Chapin", "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": "Edwin Hubbel Chapin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Do not ask if a man...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/do-not-ask-if-a-man-has-been-through-college-ask-if-a-college-has/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/do-not-ask-if-a-man-has-been-through-college-ask-if-a-college-has/#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 } } ] } ```