--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After taking my B.A. degree in 1939 I…" description: "\"After taking my B.A. degree in 1939 I remained at the University for a further year to take an advanced course in Biochemistry, and surprised myself an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/frederick-sanger-31283_biochemistry_after-taking-my-b-a-degree-in-1939-i-rem_66985.jpg" --- # After taking my B.A. degree in 1939 I remained at the… ![“After taking my B.A. degree in 1939 I remained at the University for a further year to take an advanced course in Biochemistry, and surprised myself and my teachers by obtaining a first class examination result.” quote by Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/frederick-sanger-31283_biochemistry_after-taking-my-b-a-degree-in-1939-i-rem_66985.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/frederick-sanger-31283_biochemistry_after-taking-my-b-a-degree-in-1939-i-rem_66985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/frederick-sanger-31283_biochemistry_after-taking-my-b-a-degree-in-1939-i-rem_66985.jpg) > “After taking my B.A. degree in 1939 I remained at the University for a further year to take an advanced course in Biochemistry, and surprised myself and my teachers by obtaining a first class examination result.” [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker highlights unexpected academic success in advanced biochemistry after completing a bachelor's degree, emphasizing perseverance and surpassing expectations. **In simple terms:** Unexpected achievement in advanced study. Key Takeaway Persistence can lead to surpassing expectations. Themes Perseverance Academic Excellence Self-Discovery Surprise Growth Mindset Mood Pride Surprise Determination Type Anecdote Personal testimony Inspirational When to use this quote - Graduate coursework - Professional development - Career transition Key Concepts Advanced Study Biochemistry University Education Practical Applications - Motivational speaking - Academic counseling Questions to Reflect On - What factors contributed to this unexpected success? - How can one leverage early achievements for future goals? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biochemistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biochemistry/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [First class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-class/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) ## Related quotes > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [In the 21st century our tastes buds, our brain chemistry, our biochemistry, our hormones and our kitchens have been hijacked by the food industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-21st-century-our-tastes-buds-our-brain-chemistry-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My brother has a Ph.D. in biochemistry, which I find so totally impressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-bishe/my-brother-has-a-ph-d-in-biochemistry-which-i-find-so-totally/) [Kerry Bishe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-bishe/) > [Beyond natural history Other biological sciences take up the study at other levels of organization: dissecting the individual into organs and tissues and seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marston-bates/beyond-natural-history-other-biological-sciences-take-up-the-study-at/) [Marston Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marston-bates/) > [We know from astronomy that the universe had a beginning, from physics that the future is both open and unpredictable, from geology and paleontology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/we-know-from-astronomy-that-the-universe-had-a-beginning-from-physics/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [To describe the overwhelming life of a tropical forest just in terms of inert biochemistry and DNA didn't seem to give a very full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-sheldrake/to-describe-the-overwhelming-life-of-a-tropical-forest-just-in-terms/) [Rupert Sheldrake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-sheldrake/) > [ Casein \[the main protein found in dairy\], in fact, is the most 'relevant' chemical carcinogen ever identified; its cancer-producin g effects occur in animals… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/casein-the-main-protein-found-in-dairy-in-fact-is-the-most-relevant/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [“It is one of the striking generalizations of biochemistry—which surprisingly is hardly ever mentioned in the biochemical text-books—that the twenty amino acids and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-crick/it-is-one-of-the-striking-generalizations-of-biochemistry-which/) [Francis Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-crick/) > [The war project at Stanford was essentially completed, and I accepted an offer of an Assistant Professorship at the University of Minnesota, which had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-boyer/the-war-project-at-stanford-was-essentially-completed-and-i-accepted/) [Paul D. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-d-boyer/) > [“I would not be among you to-night (being awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine) but for the mentors, colleagues and students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-bloch/i-would-not-be-among-you-to-night-being-awarded-the-1964-nobel-prize/) Konrad Bloch > [In marked contrast to the University of Wisconsin, Biochemistry was hardly visible at Stanford in 1945, consisting of only two professors in the chemistry department.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-boyer/in-marked-contrast-to-the-university-of-wisconsin-biochemistry-was/) [Paul D. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-d-boyer/) > [It's not how deep you go, it's how you go deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-rolf/it-s-not-how-deep-you-go-it-s-how-you-go-deep/) [Ida Rolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-rolf/) > [Her death contributed to my later interest in studying biochemistry, an interest that has not been fulfilled in the sense that my accomplishments remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-boyer/her-death-contributed-to-my-later-interest-in-studying-biochemistry/) [Paul D. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-d-boyer/) > [We look at the human body as a biochemical machine controlled by genes and therefore we see a mechanical aspect to life and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-h-lipton/we-look-at-the-human-body-as-a-biochemical-machine-controlled-by/) [Bruce H. Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-h-lipton/) > [My main thesis will be that in the study of the intermediate processes of metabolism we have to deal not with complex substances which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-gowland-hopkins/my-main-thesis-will-be-that-in-the-study-of-the-intermediate/) [Frederick Gowland Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-gowland-hopkins/) ## More by Frederick Sanger > [It was Neuberger who first taught me how to do research, both technically and as a way of life, and I owe much to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/it-was-neuberger-who-first-taught-me-how-to-do-research-both/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [Science is not like the Olympic Games or something where there's a lot of people all trying to win gold medals, and if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/science-is-not-like-the-olympic-games-or-something-where-there-s-a/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [And indeed this theme has been at the centre of all my research since 1943, both because of its intrinsic fascination and my conviction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/and-indeed-this-theme-has-been-at-the-centre-of-all-my-research-since/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [When I was young my Father used to tell me that the two most worthwhile pursuits in life were the pursuit of truth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/when-i-was-young-my-father-used-to-tell-me-that-the-two-most/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [I was married to Margaret Joan Howe in 1940. Although not a scientist herself she has contributed more to my work than anyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/i-was-married-to-margaret-joan-howe-in-1940-although-not-a-scientist/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [Initially I had intended to study medicine, but before going to University I had decided that I would be better suited to a career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/initially-i-had-intended-to-study-medicine-but-before-going-to/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [A DNA sequence for the genome of bacteriophage ΦX174 of approximately 5,375 nucleotides has been determined using the rapid and simple 'plus and minus'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/a-dna-sequence-for-the-genome-of-bacteriophage-x174-of-approximately/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [Influenced by him, and probably even more so by my brother Theodore a year older than me, I soon became interested in biology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/influenced-by-him-and-probably-even-more-so-by-my-brother-theodore-a/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [Scientific research is one of the most exciting and rewarding of occupations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/scientific-research-is-one-of-the-most-exciting-and-rewarding-of/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [I believe that we have been doing this not primarily to achieve riches or even honour, but rather because we were interested in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/i-believe-that-we-have-been-doing-this-not-primarily-to-achieve/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [In this atmosphere I soon became interested in nucleic acids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/in-this-atmosphere-i-soon-became-interested-in-nucleic-acids/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [I and my colleagues here have been engaged in the pursuit of knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/i-and-my-colleagues-here-have-been-engaged-in-the-pursuit-of-knowledge/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [It is like a voyage of discovery into unknown lands, seeking not for new territory but for new knowledge. It should appeal to those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/it-is-like-a-voyage-of-discovery-into-unknown-lands-seeking-not-for/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [Until 1943 I received no stipend. I was able to support myself as my mother was the daughter of a relatively wealthy cotton manufacturer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/until-1943-i-received-no-stipend-i-was-able-to-support-myself-as-my/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [Through art and science in their broadest senses it is possible to make a permanent contribution towards the improvement and enrichment of human life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/through-art-and-science-in-their-broadest-senses-it-is-possible-to/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) [Explore all 16 Frederick Sanger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) ## More Biochemistry quotes > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [We look at the human body as a biochemical machine controlled by genes and therefore we see a mechanical aspect to life and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-h-lipton/we-look-at-the-human-body-as-a-biochemical-machine-controlled-by/) [Bruce H. Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-h-lipton/) > [Her death contributed to my later interest in studying biochemistry, an interest that has not been fulfilled in the sense that my accomplishments remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-boyer/her-death-contributed-to-my-later-interest-in-studying-biochemistry/) [Paul D. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-d-boyer/) > [It's not how deep you go, it's how you go deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-rolf/it-s-not-how-deep-you-go-it-s-how-you-go-deep/) [Ida Rolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-rolf/) > [In marked contrast to the University of Wisconsin, Biochemistry was hardly visible at Stanford in 1945, consisting of only two professors in the chemistry department.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-boyer/in-marked-contrast-to-the-university-of-wisconsin-biochemistry-was/) [Paul D. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-d-boyer/) > [“I would not be among you to-night (being awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine) but for the mentors, colleagues and students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-bloch/i-would-not-be-among-you-to-night-being-awarded-the-1964-nobel-prize/) Konrad Bloch > [The war project at Stanford was essentially completed, and I accepted an offer of an Assistant Professorship at the University of Minnesota, which had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-boyer/the-war-project-at-stanford-was-essentially-completed-and-i-accepted/) [Paul D. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-d-boyer/) > [“It is one of the striking generalizations of biochemistry—which surprisingly is hardly ever mentioned in the biochemical text-books—that the twenty amino acids and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-crick/it-is-one-of-the-striking-generalizations-of-biochemistry-which/) [Francis Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-crick/) > [ Casein \[the main protein found in dairy\], in fact, is the most 'relevant' chemical carcinogen ever identified; its cancer-producin g effects occur in animals… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/casein-the-main-protein-found-in-dairy-in-fact-is-the-most-relevant/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [To describe the overwhelming life of a tropical forest just in terms of inert biochemistry and DNA didn't seem to give a very full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-sheldrake/to-describe-the-overwhelming-life-of-a-tropical-forest-just-in-terms/) [Rupert Sheldrake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-sheldrake/) > [We know from astronomy that the universe had a beginning, from physics that the future is both open and unpredictable, from geology and paleontology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/we-know-from-astronomy-that-the-universe-had-a-beginning-from-physics/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [Beyond natural history Other biological sciences take up the study at other levels of organization: dissecting the individual into organs and tissues and seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marston-bates/beyond-natural-history-other-biological-sciences-take-up-the-study-at/) [Marston Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marston-bates/) > [My brother has a Ph.D. in biochemistry, which I find so totally impressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-bishe/my-brother-has-a-ph-d-in-biochemistry-which-i-find-so-totally/) [Kerry Bishe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-bishe/) > [In the 21st century our tastes buds, our brain chemistry, our biochemistry, our hormones and our kitchens have been hijacked by the food industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-21st-century-our-tastes-buds-our-brain-chemistry-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My main thesis will be that in the study of the intermediate processes of metabolism we have to deal not with complex substances which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-gowland-hopkins/my-main-thesis-will-be-that-in-the-study-of-the-intermediate/) [Frederick Gowland Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-gowland-hopkins/) [Browse all 72 Biochemistry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biochemistry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After taking my B.A. degree in 1939 I remained at the University for a further year to take an advanced course in Biochemistry, and surprised myself and my teachers by obtaining a first class examination result.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frederick Sanger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/after-taking-my-b-a-degree-in-1939-i-remained-at-the-university-for-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Biochemistry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/after-taking-my-b-a-degree-in-1939-i-remained-at-the-university-for-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/frederick-sanger-31283_biochemistry_after-taking-my-b-a-degree-in-1939-i-rem_66985.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/frederick-sanger-31283_biochemistry_after-taking-my-b-a-degree-in-1939-i-rem_66985.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/frederick-sanger-31283_biochemistry_after-taking-my-b-a-degree-in-1939-i-rem_66985.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After taking my B.A. degree in 1939 I remained at the University for a further year to take an advanced…” — Frederick Sanger", "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": "Frederick Sanger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "After taking my B.A. degree in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/after-taking-my-b-a-degree-in-1939-i-remained-at-the-university-for-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/after-taking-my-b-a-degree-in-1939-i-remained-at-the-university-for-a/#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 } } ] } ```