--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started studying law, but this I could…" description: "\"“I started studying law, but this I could stand just for one semester. I couldn't stand more. Then I studied languages and literature for two years. Af..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/george-polya-10766_biography_i-started-studying-law-but-this-i-could_1898431.png" --- # I started studying law, but this I could stand just for… ![“I started studying law, but this I could stand just for one semester. I couldn't stand more. Then I studied languages and literature for two years. After two years I passed an examination with the result I have a teaching certificate for Latin and Hungarian for the lower classes of the gymnasium…” quote by George Pólya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/george-polya-10766_biography_i-started-studying-law-but-this-i-could_1898431.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/george-polya-10766_biography_i-started-studying-law-but-this-i-could_1898431.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/george-polya-10766_biography_i-started-studying-law-but-this-i-could_1898431.png) > ““I started studying law, but this I could stand just for one semester. I couldn't stand more. Then I studied languages and literature for two years. After two years I passed an examination with the result I have a teaching certificate for Latin and Hungarian for the lower classes of the gymnasium, for kids from 10 to 14. I never made use of this teaching certificate. And then I came to philosophy, physics, and mathematics. In fact, I came to mathematics indirectly. I was really more interested in physics and philosophy and thought about those. It is a little shortened but not quite wrong to say: I thought I am not good enough for physics and I am too good for philosophy. Mathematics is in between.”” [George Pólya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He explored various fields, feeling mismatched, and found mathematics as a balanced middle ground between physics and philosophy. **In simple terms:** He tried many subjects, felt too good for philosophy and not good enough for physics, so chose math. Key Takeaway Seek fields that balance your strengths and interests. Themes career exploration self‑assessment interdisciplinary mathematics physics philosophy Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice personal narrative When to use this quote - academic advising - career counseling - personal development - educational planning Key Concepts identity balance fit Questions to Reflect On - What compromises do you accept when balancing interests? - How can you integrate diverse passions? A Different Perspective Choosing a middle ground may limit deep specialization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biography/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Hungarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hungarian/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-mathematics-1141880/) [Philosophy Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-physics-2785581/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Physics Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics-good-2197850/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Studied Languages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studied-languages-793599/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Studying Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studying-law-2785580/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Two years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-years/) ## Related quotes > [At Oxford University, I studied languages so I could read the great novels as they were originally written. 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Mathematics is in between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/i-am-too-good-for-philosophy-and-not-good-enough-for-physics/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [Solving problems is a practical art, like swimming, or skiing, or playing the piano: you can learn it only by imitation and practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/solving-problems-is-a-practical-art-like-swimming-or-skiing-or/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [An idea which can be used only once is a trick. 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If it can be used more than once it becomes a method.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/an-idea-which-can-be-used-once-is-a-trick-if-it-can-be-used-more-than/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) [Explore all 63 George Pólya quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) ## More Biography quotes > [I have my own biography of Gram Parsons - I don't want to be part of somebody else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmylou-harris/i-have-my-own-biography-of-gram-parsons-i-don-t-want-to-be-part-of/) [Emmylou Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmylou-harris/) > [“If you can choose your way into a cage, you can choose your way out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-kempton/if-you-can-choose-your-way-into-a-cage-you-can-choose-your-way-out/) [Beth Kempton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-kempton/) > [All Philosophy is Biography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/all-philosophy-is-biography/) [Peter J. 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