--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cleverness is a burden after that. You…" description: "\"Cleverness is a burden after that. You are supposed to settle down and be a good person, raise your children, and be good to your friends, which you ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/garrison-keillor-1037_back-when_cleverness-is-a-burden-after-that-you-ar_2625038.jpg" --- # Cleverness is a burden after that. You are supposed to… ![“Cleverness is a burden after that. You are supposed to settle down and be a good person, raise your children, and be good to your friends, which you may not have been back when you were clever.” quote by Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/garrison-keillor-1037_back-when_cleverness-is-a-burden-after-that-you-ar_2625038.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/garrison-keillor-1037_back-when_cleverness-is-a-burden-after-that-you-ar_2625038.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/garrison-keillor-1037_back-when_cleverness-is-a-burden-after-that-you-ar_2625038.jpg) > “Cleverness is a burden after that. You are supposed to settle down and be a good person, raise your children, and be good to your friends, which you may not have been back when you were clever.” [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cleverness can become a weight, hindering ordinary life responsibilities. **In simple terms:** Intelligence can feel burdensome. Key Takeaway Balance wit with everyday duties. Themes intelligence responsibility life balance Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - parenting - career growth Key Concepts burden self‑expectation Questions to Reflect On - When does cleverness become a hindrance? - How to stay grounded while being smart? A Different Perspective Overthinking can isolate you from simple joys. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Back when](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back-when/) [Be good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-good/) [Being a good person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-good-person/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Cleverness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleverness/) [Cleverness Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleverness-burden-2142924/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Friends Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends-clever-2142925/) [Good person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-person/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Our children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-children/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Raises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raises/) [Settle Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settle-good-267423/) [Settling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settling/) [Settling down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settling-down/) [Your children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-children/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes forgetting the man who you loved years ago can be the most difficult task when you actually plan to settle down for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher/sometimes-forgetting-the-man-who-you-loved-years-ago-can-be-the-most/) [Mazher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher/) > [I just don't like to settle. Good enough is never good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-natori/i-just-don-t-like-to-settle-good-enough-is-never-good-enough/) [Josie Natori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-natori/) > [But also outside of football, with the family, the most important is to settle down, to have everything good outside with school, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-berg/but-also-outside-of-football-with-the-family-the-most-important-is-to/) [Marcus Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-berg/) > [“Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/few-people-attain-great-lives-in-large-part-because-it-is-just-so/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [The people who don't have a great life are the ones who settle for a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/the-people-who-don-t-have-a-great-life-are-the-ones-who-settle-for-a/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“Veronica: Like, why settle for something not good just cause it's something?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-mars/veronica-like-why-settle-for-something-not-good-just-cause-it-s/) [Veronica Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-mars/) > [Most people will look back and realize they did not have a great life because it's just so easy to settle for a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/most-people-will-look-back-and-realize-they-did-not-have-a-great-life/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“They believe that life is filled with a bunch of choices and we just have to pick good, better, or best. We can settle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-grey/they-believe-that-life-is-filled-with-a-bunch-of-choices-and-we-just/) [Marilyn Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-grey/) > [“Never settle for good when great is available.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/never-settle-for-good-when-great-is-available/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [“Settle down and be Good forever. Find the hardest things to accept in me, and reconcile what I am with what I hope to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-wang/settle-down-and-be-good-forever-find-the-hardest-things-to-accept-in/) [Jen Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-wang/) > [“Don't settle for good when you can wait for something Fantastic! ~Janiece Rendon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janiece-rendon/don-t-settle-for-good-when-you-can-wait-for-something-fantastic/) [Janiece Rendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janiece-rendon/) > [Old Flossie settle down on the other side of What-the-Dickens and dragged some handiwork out of a sack. She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [You see, this heart, won't settle down; just like a child, running, scared, from a clown. Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/you-see-this-heart-won-t-settle-down-just-like-a-child-running-scared/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Dogs seek attention from you. But by paying them that attention when they want it, you're reinforcing the bad or hyperactive or anxious behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/dogs-seek-attention-from-you-but-by-paying-them-that-attention-when/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [One day I may commit to a city and settle down and do the restaurant thing - when I'm ready and however and whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-kish/one-day-i-may-commit-to-a-city-and-settle-down-and-do-the-restaurant/) [Kristen Kish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-kish/) ## More by Garrison Keillor > [God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/god-writes-a-lot-of-comedy-the-trouble-is-he-s-stuck-with-so-many-bad/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [God plays a lot of jokes on us to get our attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/god-plays-a-lot-of-jokes-on-us-to-get-our-attention/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Ha! Easy for nuns to talk about giving up things. That's what they do for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/ha-easy-for-nuns-to-talk-about-giving-up-things-that-s-what-they-do/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [This is the big reason most humorists fail. Drunks don't read books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/this-is-the-big-reason-most-humorists-fail-drunks-don-t-read-books/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Before the world was made, when it was only darkness and mist and waters, God was well aware of Lake Wobegon, my family, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/before-the-world-was-made-when-it-was-only-darkness-and-mist-and/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [On investments, 1998: Where I'm from we don't trust paper. Wealth is what's here on the premises. If I open a cupboard and see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/on-investments-1998-where-i-m-from-we-don-t-trust-paper-wealth-is/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [“The rich can afford to be progressive. Poor people have reason to be afraid of the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-rich-can-afford-to-be-progressive-poor-people-have-reason-to-be/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [English is the perfect language for preachers because it allows you to talk until you think of what to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/english-is-the-perfect-language-for-preachers-because-it-allows-you/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [“If you can't read a simple goddam sign and follow one simple goddam instruction then get your fat butt the hell out of here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/if-you-can-t-read-a-simple-goddam-sign-and-follow-one-simple-goddam/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [“The Gospel is meant to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-gospel-is-meant-to-comfort-the-afflicted-and-afflict-the/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I don't want them to be told to remember me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/i-don-t-want-them-to-be-told-to-remember-me/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Childhood is the small town everyone came from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/childhood-is-the-small-town-everyone-came-from/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I have taken so many wrong turns and been so careless with precious things and managed to lose, or break, or leave out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/i-have-taken-so-many-wrong-turns-and-been-so-careless-with-precious/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Where I'm from we don't trust paper. Wealth is what's here on the premises. If I open a cupboard and see, say, thirty cans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/where-i-m-from-we-don-t-trust-paper-wealth-is-what-s-here-on-the/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) [Explore all 304 Garrison Keillor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) ## More Back when quotes > [Even the Supreme Court, back when it used to makes sense, the Supreme Court has never ruled that a baby born to illegal aliens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/even-the-supreme-court-back-when-it-used-to-makes-sense-the-supreme/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I've been playing videogames since before my career in this business, but what happened is several videogame companies were recruiting students back then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-shimomura/i-ve-been-playing-videogames-since-before-my-career-in-this-business/) [Yoko Shimomura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-shimomura/) > [The origin of nursing started out with prostitutes, who would go care for people in jail. 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But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-clark/we-humans-have-indeed-always-been-adept-at-dovetailing-our-minds-and/) [Andy Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-clark/) > [We shouldn't knee jerk anything. The Iraqi government a few years back, when they had a chance to sign an agreement that would keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/we-shouldn-t-knee-jerk-anything-the-iraqi-government-a-few-years-back/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [Chris Chandler reminds me of my own self way back when - listen to him Now!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-paxton/chris-chandler-reminds-me-of-my-own-self-way-back-when-listen-to-him/) [Tom Paxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-paxton/) > [Bell, book and candle shall not drive me back, When gold and silver becks me to come on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/bell-book-and-candle-shall-not-drive-me-back-when-gold-and-silver/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I've always hate child stars, starting from way back when, when I was a child. The first child star I saw was Shirley Temple.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-ve-always-hate-child-stars-starting-from-way-back-when-when-i-was-a/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [Help is a conversation. If one side talks too much, the other side will get bored. 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But now in this day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-jackson/back-when-i-was-training-probably-the-only-nutritious-thing-on-the/) [Bo Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-jackson/) [Browse all 178 Back when quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back-when/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cleverness is a burden after that. 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