--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bottom line here -- and I use the…" description: "\"“The bottom line here -- and I use the phrase with an eye to the mind-set that promotes these 'systems' -- is that I am increasingly devoting more time..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/garret-keizer-34804_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-here-and-i-use-the-phras_3137200.jpg" --- # The bottom line here -- and I use the phrase with an eye… ![“The bottom line here -- and I use the phrase with an eye to the mind-set that promotes these 'systems' -- is that I am increasingly devoting more time to the generation and recording of data and less time to the educational substance of what the data is supposed to measure. Think of it as a man…” quote by Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/garret-keizer-34804_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-here-and-i-use-the-phras_3137200.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/garret-keizer-34804_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-here-and-i-use-the-phras_3137200.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/garret-keizer-34804_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-here-and-i-use-the-phras_3137200.jpg) > ““The bottom line here -- and I use the phrase with an eye to the mind-set that promotes these 'systems' -- is that I am increasingly devoting more time to the generation and recording of data and less time to the educational substance of what the data is supposed to measure. Think of it as a man who develops ever more elaborate schemes for counting his money, even as he forfeits more and more of his time for earning the money he counts.”” [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) ## 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 warns that focusing on data collection and measurement tools can eclipse the underlying educational purpose of what is being measured. **In simple terms:** Prioritizing data over substance reduces learning value. Key Takeaway Balance data gathering with meaningful content. Themes education measurement focus Mood reflective concerned Type advisory analytical When to use this quote - research projects - teaching - policy analysis - business metrics Key Concepts systems thinking data overload educational value Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure data serves learning? - What metrics truly reflect understanding? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on data can lead to analysis paralysis and neglect of insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bottom line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) [Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Data Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data-supposed-5574082/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Educational Substance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational-substance-5574085/) [Promotes Systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promotes-systems-5574084/) [Systems Increasingly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/systems-increasingly-5574083/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-educational-5574081/) ## Related quotes > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [Two to 4% of cancers respond to chemotherapy…The bottom line is for a few kinds of cancer chemo is a life extending procedure-Hodgkin's disease,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-w-moss/two-to-4-of-cancers-respond-to-chemotherapy-the-bottom-line-is-for-a/) [Ralph W. Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-w-moss/) > [With a reality show, the bottom line is, there's no plot; there's no finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-gosselin/with-a-reality-show-the-bottom-line-is-there-s-no-plot-there-s-no/) [Kate Gosselin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-gosselin/) > [If you look at the statistics, I genuinely understand why when we go to a production company or a broadcaster, and they say our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joivan-wade/if-you-look-at-the-statistics-i-genuinely-understand-why-when-we-go/) [Joivan Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joivan-wade/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [One of two things when the guy you're dating isn't really ready to commit. He's an a\*\*hole and he's cheating on you; bottom line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-catherwood/one-of-two-things-when-the-guy-you-re-dating-isn-t-really-ready-to/) [Michael Catherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-catherwood/) > [Bottom line is, work ethic equals dreams, and I am walking proof that that's a fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diamond-dallas-page/bottom-line-is-work-ethic-equals-dreams-and-i-am-walking-proof-that/) [Diamond Dallas Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diamond-dallas-page/) > [I'm very grateful to be where I'm at and be able to play. That's really the bottom line for me. Survival and being able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/i-m-very-grateful-to-be-where-i-m-at-and-be-able-to-play-that-s/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [I plead with my Moonlight fans to give this show a chance if they let me give it a chance. I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Cheer up. You're not going to be single forever. Bottom line is, you're young. Don't base your future on your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cheer-up-you-re-not-going-to-be-single-forever-bottom-line-is-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## More by Garret Keizer > [“I'd probably put those salt and pepper shakers away now, David, because we're about to be visited by dribbling cannibal psychopath and we wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-keizer/i-d-probably-put-those-salt-and-pepper-shakers-away-now-david-because/) [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) > [“My master gives me bread and beer and every good thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-keizer/my-master-gives-me-bread-and-beer-and-every-good-thing/) [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) > [“Killt him a b'ar when he was only three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-keizer/killt-him-a-b-ar-when-he-was-only-three/) [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) > [“Teachers who complain 'These kids have no work ethic' couldn't be farther off the mark. The problem is not that these kids lack a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-keizer/teachers-who-complain-these-kids-have-no-work-ethic-couldn-t-be/) [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) > [“If God came to India, he'd have to come as bread. If God came to Willoughby union he'd have to came as what?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-keizer/if-god-came-to-india-he-d-have-to-come-as-bread-if-god-came-to/) [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) > [“If you can sustain the insight that people are doing the best they can--if you can maintain some faith that this is an insight--you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-keizer/if-you-can-sustain-the-insight-that-people-are-doing-the-best-they/) [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) > [“So beer is our bread?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-keizer/so-beer-is-our-bread/) [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) > [“People in the city are poor because they are oppressed, discriminated against and alienated; people in the country are poor because they're too stupid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-keizer/people-in-the-city-are-poor-because-they-are-oppressed-discriminated/) [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) > [ “Our advertising and even our arts convey the idea that we \[Americans\] as a society are brash, irreverent, and free of all constraint, when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-keizer/our-advertising-and-even-our-arts-convey-the-idea-that-we-americans/) [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) > [“I try to remember what I have too often forgotten to my peril: as far as teaching goes, when all you are is right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-keizer/i-try-to-remember-what-i-have-too-often-forgotten-to-my-peril-as-far/) [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) > [“Everyone believes in sin, the people who charge their peers with political incorrectness and the people who regard political correctness as the bogey of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-keizer/everyone-believes-in-sin-the-people-who-charge-their-peers-with/) [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) > [“We inculcate in our children the sensibilities of raccoons, a fascination with shiny objects and an appetite for garbage, and then carp about 'the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-keizer/we-inculcate-in-our-children-the-sensibilities-of-raccoons-a/) [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) > [“As we're told that 10 percent of all high school education will be computer-based by 2014 and rise to 50 percent by 2019, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-keizer/as-we-re-told-that-10-percent-of-all-high-school-education-will-be/) [Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) [Explore all 14 Garret Keizer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-keizer/) ## More Bottom line quotes > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [Cheer up. You're not going to be single forever. Bottom line is, you're young. Don't base your future on your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cheer-up-you-re-not-going-to-be-single-forever-bottom-line-is-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I plead with my Moonlight fans to give this show a chance if they let me give it a chance. I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [I'm very grateful to be where I'm at and be able to play. That's really the bottom line for me. Survival and being able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/i-m-very-grateful-to-be-where-i-m-at-and-be-able-to-play-that-s/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Bottom line is, work ethic equals dreams, and I am walking proof that that's a fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diamond-dallas-page/bottom-line-is-work-ethic-equals-dreams-and-i-am-walking-proof-that/) [Diamond Dallas Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diamond-dallas-page/) > [One of two things when the guy you're dating isn't really ready to commit. He's an a\*\*hole and he's cheating on you; bottom line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-catherwood/one-of-two-things-when-the-guy-you-re-dating-isn-t-really-ready-to/) [Michael Catherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-catherwood/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you look at the statistics, I genuinely understand why when we go to a production company or a broadcaster, and they say our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joivan-wade/if-you-look-at-the-statistics-i-genuinely-understand-why-when-we-go/) [Joivan Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joivan-wade/) > [With a reality show, the bottom line is, there's no plot; there's no finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-gosselin/with-a-reality-show-the-bottom-line-is-there-s-no-plot-there-s-no/) [Kate Gosselin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-gosselin/) > [Two to 4% of cancers respond to chemotherapy…The bottom line is for a few kinds of cancer chemo is a life extending procedure-Hodgkin's disease,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-w-moss/two-to-4-of-cancers-respond-to-chemotherapy-the-bottom-line-is-for-a/) [Ralph W. Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-w-moss/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Browse all 942 Bottom line quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The bottom line here -- and I use the phrase with an eye to the mind-set that promotes these 'systems' -- is that I am increasingly devoting more time to the generation and recording of data and less time to the educational substance of what the data is supposed to measure. 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