--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes, the only way to learn…" description: "\"Sometimes, the only way to learn something really well is to revert to the state of mind of a novice and reawaken to the raw observations that you have..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/erik-naggum-8459_conclusion_sometimes-the-only-way-to-learn-somethin_1944601.png" --- # Sometimes, the only way to learn something really well is… ![“Sometimes, the only way to learn something really well is to revert to the state of mind of a novice and reawaken to the raw observations that you have accumulated instead of relying on the conclusions you have reached from the exogenous premises absorbed through teaching and bookish learning.” quote by Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/erik-naggum-8459_conclusion_sometimes-the-only-way-to-learn-somethin_1944601.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/erik-naggum-8459_conclusion_sometimes-the-only-way-to-learn-somethin_1944601.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/erik-naggum-8459_conclusion_sometimes-the-only-way-to-learn-somethin_1944601.png) > “Sometimes, the only way to learn something really well is to revert to the state of mind of a novice and reawaken to the raw observations that you have accumulated instead of relying on the conclusions you have reached from the exogenous premises absorbed through teaching and bookish learning.” [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True mastery comes from approaching topics with a beginner’s mindset, observing fresh details instead of relying on pre‑learned conclusions. **In simple terms:** Learn like a novice to see new insights. Key Takeaway Adopt a fresh perspective regularly. Themes learning humility curiosity critical thinking Mood inquisitive thoughtful Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - skill acquisition - research - creative problem solving Key Concepts beginner’s mind epistemic humility Questions to Reflect On - When have you let prior knowledge block new observations? - How can you balance expertise with curiosity? A Different Perspective Novice view may overlook deep expertise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absorbed Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absorbed-teaching-3119719/) [Bookish Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookish-learning-3119720/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Learn Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-really-848018/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Novice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-novice-3119717/) [Novice Reawaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novice-reawaken-3119718/) [Novices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novices/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Premises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/premises/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [State of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-of-mind/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [The novice-friendly software is more like a misbehaving dog: it shits on the floor, it destroys things, and stinks - the novice-friendly software embodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/the-novice-friendly-software-is-more-like-a-misbehaving-dog-it-shits/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [They don't make poles long enough for me want to touch Microsoft products, and I don't want any mass-marketed game-playing device or Windows appliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/they-don-t-make-poles-long-enough-for-me-want-to-touch-microsoft/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Only people who die very young learn all they really need to know in kindergarten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-kaminer/only-people-who-die-very-young-learn-all-they-really-need-to-know-in/) [Wendy Kaminer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-kaminer/) > [It's important that kids learn, but I really don't like all the testing, testing, testing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/it-s-important-that-kids-learn-but-i-really-don-t-like-all-the/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [When you watch people when they're relaxed, that's when you learn the most about them. That's when you really learn about who they really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/costa-ronin/when-you-watch-people-when-they-re-relaxed-that-s-when-you-learn-the/) [Costa Ronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/costa-ronin/) > [“If you allow yourself to learn who you really are by paying attention to that voice and force within you, then you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/if-you-allow-yourself-to-learn-who-you-really-are-by-paying-attention-2/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I learn something not because I have to, but because I really want to. That's the same view I have for performing. I'm performing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/i-learn-something-not-because-i-have-to-but-because-i-really-want-to/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [If you love to read, you can learn anything you really want to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-love-to-read-you-can-learn-anything-you-really-want-to-know/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [We all learn from each other, and I never really hung out with guys in that way, so I missed out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/we-all-learn-from-each-other-and-i-never-really-hung-out-with-guys-in/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [To learn something but not to do is really not to learn. To know something but not to do is really not to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-learn-something-but-not-to-do-is-really-not-to-learn-to-know/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We must be trying to learn who we really are rather than trying to tell ourselves who we should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-must-be-trying-to-learn-who-we-really-are-rather-than-trying-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's actually a privilege to actually learn how to really dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sorrentino/it-s-actually-a-privilege-to-actually-learn-how-to-really-dance/) [Michael Sorrentino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sorrentino/) > [Live to learn and you will really learn to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/live-to-learn-and-you-will-really-learn-to-live/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I had the chance to learn from some really talented people who have taught me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-welteroth/i-had-the-chance-to-learn-from-some-really-talented-people-who-have/) [Elaine Welteroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-welteroth/) > [Its important that kids learn, but I really dont like all the testing, testing, testing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/its-important-that-kids-learn-but-i-really-dont-like-all-the-testing/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) ## More by Erik Naggum > [Structure is nothing if it is all you got. Skeletons spook people if they try to walk around on their own. I really wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/structure-is-nothing-if-it-is-all-you-got-skeletons-spook-people-if/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [The only important property of evils of the past is that they not be repeated in the future, in any way, shape, or form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/the-only-important-property-of-evils-of-the-past-is-that-they-not-be/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Some people are little more than herd animals, flocking together whenever the world becomes uncomfortable … I am not one of those people. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/some-people-are-little-more-than-herd-animals-flocking-together/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [They don't make poles long enough for me want to touch Microsoft products, and I don't want any mass-marketed game-playing device or Windows appliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/they-don-t-make-poles-long-enough-for-me-want-to-touch-microsoft/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Ignoring for a moment the power of the American Medical Association, we still wouldn't see a huge amount of books on neurosurgery for dummies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/ignoring-for-a-moment-the-power-of-the-american-medical-association/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [I have actually programmed a fair bit in Perl, like I have C++ code published with my name on it. Other things I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/i-have-actually-programmed-a-fair-bit-in-perl-like-i-have-c-code/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Part of any serious QA is removing Perl code the same way you go over a dilapidated building you inherit to remove chewing gum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/part-of-any-serious-qa-is-removing-perl-code-the-same-way-you-go-over/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [I have a cat, so I know that when she digs her very sharp claws into my chest or stomach it's really a sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/i-have-a-cat-so-i-know-that-when-she-digs-her-very-sharp-claws-into/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Constructing a social system that tends to those who agree with it is a piece of cake compared to constructing one that makes those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/constructing-a-social-system-that-tends-to-those-who-agree-with-it-is/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [If, however, one factor is too successful, it will continue to be the winning factor regardless of the variation in the other factors over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/if-however-one-factor-is-too-successful-it-will-continue-to-be-the/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [C++ is a language strongly optimized for liars and people who go by guesswork and ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/c-is-a-language-strongly-optimized-for-liars-and-people-who-go-by/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Gotos aren't damnable to begin with. If you aren't smart enough to distinguish what's bad about some gotos from all gotos, goto hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/gotos-aren-t-damnable-to-begin-with-if-you-aren-t-smart-enough-to/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [I have come to believe that large print, thick and heavy paper, and wide margins and oversize leading is indicative of the expected intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/i-have-come-to-believe-that-large-print-thick-and-heavy-paper-and/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [The fundamental deficiency in HTML is that it reduces hypertext and the intertwinedness of human communication to a question of how it is rendered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/the-fundamental-deficiency-in-html-is-that-it-reduces-hypertext-and/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [The currency in the developer community is enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/the-currency-in-the-developer-community-is-enthusiasm/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) [Explore all 80 Erik Naggum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) ## More Conclusion quotes > [I'm not going to be part of looking at information only partially. I'm not going to be part of just coming to quick conclusions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/i-m-not-going-to-be-part-of-looking-at-information-only-partially-i-m/) [Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/) > [From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/from-what-i-have-seen-i-am-driven-to-the-conclusion-that-religion-is/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [The main conclusion here arrived at ... is that man is descended from some less highly organized form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-main-conclusion-here-arrived-at-is-that-man-is-descended-from/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Your deeper sense isn’t a springboard; it’s a landing place. If you draw conclusions too quickly or too slowly, you’ll establish your self where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/your-deeper-sense-isn-t-a-springboard-it-s-a-landing-place-if-you/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [When there is a mission before you, you see it from its beginning to its conclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/when-there-is-a-mission-before-you-you-see-it-from-its-beginning-to/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [Every study on chocolate is pointing to the same conclusion: there is something in chocolate that is really good for us. That something is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wolfe/every-study-on-chocolate-is-pointing-to-the-same-conclusion-there-is/) [David Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wolfe/) > [I have come to the definite conclusion that musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinichi-suzuki/i-have-come-to-the-definite-conclusion-that-musical-ability-is-not-an/) [Shinichi Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinichi-suzuki/) > [Study how a society uses its land, and you can come to pretty reliable conclusions as to what its future will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/study-how-a-society-uses-its-land-and-you-can-come-to-pretty-reliable/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [That's what politics is. It's the story of what's happening, what does it mean, what's the conclusion, who are the interesting characters?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/that-s-what-politics-is-it-s-the-story-of-what-s-happening-what-does/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [It's my firm conclusion that human meaning comes from humans, not from a supernatural source. After we die, our hopes for an afterlife reside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/it-s-my-firm-conclusion-that-human-meaning-comes-from-humans-not-from/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [To each eye, perhaps, the outlines of a great civilization present a different picture. In the wide ocean upon which we venture, the possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-burckhardt/to-each-eye-perhaps-the-outlines-of-a-great-civilization-present-a/) [Jacob Burckhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-burckhardt/) > [If you jump to conclusion you can't step on a clue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-santinello/if-you-jump-to-conclusion-you-can-t-step-on-a-clue/) [James Santinello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-santinello/) > [I cannot escape from the conclusion that the great ages of progress have depended upon a small number of individuals of transcendent ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-cannot-escape-from-the-conclusion-that-the-great-ages-of-progress/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Browse all 1,619 Conclusion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes, the only way to learn something really well is to revert to the state of mind of a novice and reawaken to the raw observations that you have accumulated instead of relying on the conclusions you have reached from the exogenous premises absorbed through teaching and bookish learning.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erik Naggum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/sometimes-the-only-way-to-learn-something-really-well-is-to-revert-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conclusion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/sometimes-the-only-way-to-learn-something-really-well-is-to-revert-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/erik-naggum-8459_conclusion_sometimes-the-only-way-to-learn-somethin_1944601.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/erik-naggum-8459_conclusion_sometimes-the-only-way-to-learn-somethin_1944601.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/erik-naggum-8459_conclusion_sometimes-the-only-way-to-learn-somethin_1944601.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes, the only way to learn something really well is to revert to the state of mind of a novice and…” — Erik Naggum", "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": "Erik Naggum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sometimes, the only way to learn...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/sometimes-the-only-way-to-learn-something-really-well-is-to-revert-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/sometimes-the-only-way-to-learn-something-really-well-is-to-revert-to/#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 } } ] } ```