--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be a learner first, a master second, and…" description: "\"Be a learner first, a master second, and a student always.\" — Ernie J Zelinski" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_education_be-a-learner-first-a-master-second-and-a_2205763.jpg" --- # Be a learner first, a master second, and a student always. ![“Be a learner first, a master second, and a student always.” quote by Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_education_be-a-learner-first-a-master-second-and-a_2205763.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_education_be-a-learner-first-a-master-second-and-a_2205763.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_education_be-a-learner-first-a-master-second-and-a_2205763.jpg) > “Be a learner first, a master second, and a student always.” [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritize curiosity and continuous learning over seeking mastery; stay humble and open to new knowledge. **In simple terms:** Learn first, master later, stay a student. Key Takeaway Embrace lifelong learning. Themes learning humility growth Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - personal growth - skill acquisition - mentorship Key Concepts continuous improvement mindset education Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay curious daily? - What habits keep you a student? A Different Perspective May become arrogant if not balanced with humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Learners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learners/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) ## Related quotes > [When I left you I was but the learner. Now I am the master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-left-you-i-was-but-the-learner-now-i-am-the-master/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) ## More by Ernie J Zelinski > [When you need something tedious done, and don't have time for it, give it to a workaholic. This way, both of you will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/when-you-need-something-tedious-done-and-don-t-have-time-for-it-give/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Take Special Care of Yourself - Because No One Else Will!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/take-special-care-of-yourself-because-no-one-else-will/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Your prosperity will grow to the extent that you do. Your feeling of prosperity may require that you overcome the fear of leaving a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/your-prosperity-will-grow-to-the-extent-that-you-do-your-feeling-of/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [If the grass on the other side of the fence is greener, try watering your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/if-the-grass-on-the-other-side-of-the-fence-is-greener-try-watering/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Contrary to popular belief, prosperity is an emotional state that has little to do with your wealth or the state of the economy. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/contrary-to-popular-belief-prosperity-is-an-emotional-state-that-has/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Unfortunately, money is more often misused and abused than used intelligently. Most people haven't figured out how to use money wisely to truly enhance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/unfortunately-money-is-more-often-misused-and-abused-than-used/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [There is a spiritual realm that encompasses all beings. Make friends with the angels, who will always be with you, although invisible. Make good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/there-is-a-spiritual-realm-that-encompasses-all-beings-make-friends/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [There's Insanity on Both Sides of the Debate When You Argue with an Idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/there-s-insanity-on-both-sides-of-the-debate-when-you-argue-with-an/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [If you want to retire happy, great health is important. The foundation for all happiness lies in health. Physical, mental, or spiritual health -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/if-you-want-to-retire-happy-great-health-is-important-the-foundation/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Understand that workaholics aren't productive people. Quite the contrary. A workaholic is someone who takes twice as much time to accomplish half as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/understand-that-workaholics-aren-t-productive-people-quite-the/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Here is a myth for you if myths are your pleasure: "There is no more opportunity in this world." Most people held this false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/here-is-a-myth-for-you-if-myths-are-your-pleasure-there-is-no-more/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Never economize on the small luxuries of life. Drinking fine wine and eating chocolate won't solve your problems - but they won't hurt either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/never-economize-on-the-small-luxuries-of-life-drinking-fine-wine-and/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [To fear retirement is to fear life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/to-fear-retirement-is-to-fear-life/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Talking about creativity is useless if you don't do anything magical with yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/talking-about-creativity-is-useless-if-you-don-t-do-anything-magical/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [People who observe no limits in attempting to get work done aren't nearly as smart as they think. Hard work can be done by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/people-who-observe-no-limits-in-attempting-to-get-work-done-aren-t/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) [Explore all 120 Ernie J Zelinski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. Otherwise the world would be full of millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-school-you-are-taught-to-obey-and-not-to-think-straight-for-your/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) Ioannes Amos Commenius > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) H.D. (Hilda Doolittle > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be a learner first, a master second, and a student always.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernie J Zelinski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/be-a-learner-first-a-master-second-and-a-student-always/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Education" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/be-a-learner-first-a-master-second-and-a-student-always/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_education_be-a-learner-first-a-master-second-and-a_2205763.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_education_be-a-learner-first-a-master-second-and-a_2205763.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_education_be-a-learner-first-a-master-second-and-a_2205763.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be a learner first, a master second, and a student always.” — Ernie J Zelinski", "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": "Ernie J Zelinski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Be a learner first, a master...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/be-a-learner-first-a-master-second-and-a-student-always/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/be-a-learner-first-a-master-second-and-a-student-always/#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 } } ] } ```