--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I often have said that to be a college…" description: "\"I often have said that to be a college president, you need a thick skin, a good sense of humor, and nerves like sewer pipes.\" — Gordon Gee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/gordon-gee-26836_college_i-often-have-said-that-to-be-a-college-p_575543.png" --- # I often have said that to be a college president, you need… ![“I often have said that to be a college president, you need a thick skin, a good sense of humor, and nerves like sewer pipes.” quote by Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/gordon-gee-26836_college_i-often-have-said-that-to-be-a-college-p_575543.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/gordon-gee-26836_college_i-often-have-said-that-to-be-a-college-p_575543.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/gordon-gee-26836_college_i-often-have-said-that-to-be-a-college-p_575543.png) > “I often have said that to be a college president, you need a thick skin, a good sense of humor, and nerves like sewer pipes.” [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. College leadership demands resilience, humor, and thick skin to survive criticism and stress. **In simple terms:** Leaders need toughness and humor. Key Takeaway Cultivate resilience and levity. Themes leadership resilience humor Mood lighthearted pragmatic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - administration - public speaking - conflict resolution Key Concepts organizational psychology stress management Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance humor with authority? - What strategies protect your nerves? A Different Perspective Humor may be misinterpreted in serious contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Good sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-sense/) [Good sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-sense-of-humor/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Nerves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerves/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humor/) [Skin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skin/) [Thick skin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thick-skin/) ## Related quotes > [The combination of landing the biggest interview of my career and having a drill in my back reminds me that God only gives us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-roberts/the-combination-of-landing-the-biggest-interview-of-my-career-and/) [Robin Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-roberts/) > [When asked what are the top things on her list when looking for the right guy: Gorgeous, available - gotta be single, none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dannii-minogue/when-asked-what-are-the-top-things-on-her-list-when-looking-for-the/) [Dannii Minogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dannii-minogue/) > [I could never be a lesbian because I have a really good sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-mcfarlane/i-could-never-be-a-lesbian-because-i-have-a-really-good-sense-of-humor/) [Bonnie McFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-mcfarlane/) > [Some people that work for Hot Pockets came to my Denver Paramount Theater show. They brought these hot pocket boxes the size of suit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/some-people-that-work-for-hot-pockets-came-to-my-denver-paramount/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [Dali had a good sense of humor - obviously you could tell just looking at him; he was funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-grant/dali-had-a-good-sense-of-humor-obviously-you-could-tell-just-looking/) [Joe Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-grant/) > [Anybody with a good sense of humor is one-up on their competition. We respond to somebody who has the ability to make us laugh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/anybody-with-a-good-sense-of-humor-is-one-up-on-their-competition-we/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [I'm just a dog person. I love dogs very much, especially big ones, hounds, and retrievers. 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I was like, "Oh yeah we kind of took some shots at MTV,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-kaplan/i-actually-didn-t-even-think-about-josie-and-the-pussycats-i-was-like/) [Deborah Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-kaplan/) > [Bob Dole used to be really funny. Barney Frank can be kind of funny. Bob Kerrey has a good sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/bob-dole-used-to-be-really-funny-barney-frank-can-be-kind-of-funny/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I think Ive got a pretty good sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-think-ive-got-a-pretty-good-sense-of-humor/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [Confidence and a good sense of humor can usually win a chick over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/confidence-and-a-good-sense-of-humor-can-usually-win-a-chick-over/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [All in all, I think that out of all musical genres, the world of metal is the most escapist one. Metal is also music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tuomas-holopainen/all-in-all-i-think-that-out-of-all-musical-genres-the-world-of-metal/) [Tuomas Holopainen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tuomas-holopainen/) > [The friendship that we established early on in our marriage ... that carries you through tough times. That and a good sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-friendship-that-we-established-early-on-in-our-marriage-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Gordon Gee > [I believe everything learned in college is an answer to a question that someone has posed. Questions get posed differently and the answers that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/i-believe-everything-learned-in-college-is-an-answer-to-a-question/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [I spent the first 18 years of my life in the pastoral town of Vernal, Utah, in the shadows of the Book Cliffs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/i-spent-the-first-18-years-of-my-life-in-the-pastoral-town-of-vernal/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [The arts, quite simply, nourish the soul. They sustain, comfort, inspire. There is nothing like that exquisite moment when you first discover the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/the-arts-quite-simply-nourish-the-soul-they-sustain-comfort-inspire/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [A truly great university is a nucleus of artistic expression. It fosters creative, critical thought, and serves as a platform for civil discourse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/a-truly-great-university-is-a-nucleus-of-artistic-expression-it/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [Being president of a major public university is the most political nonpolitical office around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/being-president-of-a-major-public-university-is-the-most-political/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [I am not a scientist. I have never analyzed the far reaches of the solar system through the lens of a telescope nor scrutinized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/i-am-not-a-scientist-i-have-never-analyzed-the-far-reaches-of-the/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [Intellectual curiosity drove Einstein to some of the world's most important discoveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/intellectual-curiosity-drove-einstein-to-some-of-the-world-s-most/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [You can’t trust those damn Catholics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/you-can-t-trust-those-damn-catholics/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [I believe that it is higher education's purpose and calling to keep open the door to the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/i-believe-that-it-is-higher-education-s-purpose-and-calling-to-keep/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [As one of the country's largest land-grant universities, Ohio State must play a critical role in moving our country forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/as-one-of-the-country-s-largest-land-grant-universities-ohio-state/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [To be sure, American higher education is a diverse ecosystem, comprising institutions of all sizes, price tags, and mission statements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/to-be-sure-american-higher-education-is-a-diverse-ecosystem/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [The Ohio State University has a rich - if quiet - heritage of the arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/the-ohio-state-university-has-a-rich-if-quiet-heritage-of-the-arts/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [If people want to pigeon hole you then just view it as an opportunity to prove them wrong and show that you are different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/if-people-want-to-pigeon-hole-you-then-just-view-it-as-an-opportunity/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [College graduates work in every sector of the American economy, and the research engines incubated within our universities generate a wealth of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/college-graduates-work-in-every-sector-of-the-american-economy-and/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [So if a college education is indispensable, the challenge as I see it is how to make it more accessible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/so-if-a-college-education-is-indispensable-the-challenge-as-i-see-it/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) [Explore all 21 Gordon Gee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) ## More College quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [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/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) [Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I often have said that to be a college president, you need a thick skin, a good sense of humor, and nerves like sewer pipes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gordon Gee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/i-often-have-said-that-to-be-a-college-president-you-need-a-thick/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "College" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/i-often-have-said-that-to-be-a-college-president-you-need-a-thick/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/gordon-gee-26836_college_i-often-have-said-that-to-be-a-college-p_575543.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/gordon-gee-26836_college_i-often-have-said-that-to-be-a-college-p_575543.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/gordon-gee-26836_college_i-often-have-said-that-to-be-a-college-p_575543.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I often have said that to be a college president, you need a thick skin, a good sense of humor, and nerves…” — Gordon Gee", "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": "Gordon Gee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I often have said that to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/i-often-have-said-that-to-be-a-college-president-you-need-a-thick/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/i-often-have-said-that-to-be-a-college-president-you-need-a-thick/#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 } } ] } ```