--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My parents both left school at 14, but my…" description: "\"My parents both left school at 14, but my parents are incredibly smart, successful, thoughtful people. So one of the lessons I learned from my parents ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/harry-west-36420_amazing-things_my-parents-both-left-school-at-14-but-my_1117820.jpg" --- # My parents both left school at 14, but my parents are… ![“My parents both left school at 14, but my parents are incredibly smart, successful, thoughtful people. So one of the lessons I learned from my parents is that the fancy degree is just a foot in the door, and there are a lot of very smart people out there who don't necessarily have the fancy…” quote by Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/harry-west-36420_amazing-things_my-parents-both-left-school-at-14-but-my_1117820.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/harry-west-36420_amazing-things_my-parents-both-left-school-at-14-but-my_1117820.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/harry-west-36420_amazing-things_my-parents-both-left-school-at-14-but-my_1117820.jpg) > “My parents both left school at 14, but my parents are incredibly smart, successful, thoughtful people. So one of the lessons I learned from my parents is that the fancy degree is just a foot in the door, and there are a lot of very smart people out there who don't necessarily have the fancy degrees. And given the opportunity, they can do amazing things.” [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Formal education is not the sole gateway to success; many capable individuals thrive without prestigious degrees, proving talent and opportunity matter more. **In simple terms:** Degrees are optional; talent and opportunity matter. Key Takeaway Focus on skill and opportunity over credentials. Themes education success talent Mood hopeful pragmatic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - skill training - networking Key Concepts sociology economics Questions to Reflect On - How can you showcase ability without a degree? - What opportunities can you create for yourself? A Different Perspective Credentials still open doors in certain fields. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amazing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing-things/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Smart people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-people/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Thoughtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughtful/) ## Related quotes > [Once you identify the intrinsically motivated people, you realize that fancy degrees can actually be a negative - that some of the people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-ming/once-you-identify-the-intrinsically-motivated-people-you-realize-that/) [Vivienne Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-ming/) > [You don't need a fancy degree to dream big and make it happen. It's all in your head , your heart , your hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashmi-bansal/you-don-t-need-a-fancy-degree-to-dream-big-and-make-it-happen-it-s/) [Rashmi Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashmi-bansal/) > [What makes business exciting is that you don't need a fancy degree, and anyone can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/what-makes-business-exciting-is-that-you-don-t-need-a-fancy-degree/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [The Chinese are not stupid people. They're very smart people. They told me very, very distinctly that they cannot believe how stupid our representatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-chinese-are-not-stupid-people-they-re-very-smart-people-they-told/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [All you need do is listen to very smart people and sift out the ideas that are unworthy or implausible, and I wouldn't pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moritz/all-you-need-do-is-listen-to-very-smart-people-and-sift-out-the-ideas/) [Michael Moritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moritz/) > [In the real world, very smart people fail and mediocre people rise. Part of what makes people fail or succeed are skills that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/in-the-real-world-very-smart-people-fail-and-mediocre-people-rise/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I don't think Mitt Romney is a smart person. I never have thought he was a smart person. But the Mormons are very smart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-don-t-think-mitt-romney-is-a-smart-person-i-never-have-thought-he/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [My father and mother are both very smart people and I always felt I was a little short of the mark. So I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-weatherly/my-father-and-mother-are-both-very-smart-people-and-i-always-felt-i/) [Michael Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-weatherly/) > [Some PhD physicists write software or work for hedge funds, but physics still has a problem with having very smart people but not enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-j-russell/some-phd-physicists-write-software-or-work-for-hedge-funds-but/) [Stuart J. Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-j-russell/) > [As you may have heard, the U.S. is putting together a constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? Think about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/as-you-may-have-heard-the-u-s-is-putting-together-a-constitution-for/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [The key for us, number one, has always been hiring very smart people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-key-for-us-number-one-has-always-been-hiring-very-smart-people/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [My colleagues across the aisle in Brooklyn and team Clinton are very smart people. I respect them very much. But they misread America. They,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/my-colleagues-across-the-aisle-in-brooklyn-and-team-clinton-are-very/) [Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/) > [Meaning and value depend on human mind space and the commitment of time and energy by very smart people to a creative enterprise. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weber/meaning-and-value-depend-on-human-mind-space-and-the-commitment-of/) [Steven Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weber/) > [First of all, with Mitt Romney, I was saying to the Mormons - the Mormons are very smart people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/first-of-all-with-mitt-romney-i-was-saying-to-the-mormons-the-mormons/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I prefer to make up my own quotes and attribute them to very smart people, so that I can use them to win arguments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-prefer-to-make-up-my-own-quotes-and-attribute-them-to-very-smart/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## More by Harry West > [I have in the past tended to overestimate the amount of change I can affect in the short run and then not fully appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-west/i-have-in-the-past-tended-to-overestimate-the-amount-of-change-i-can/) [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) > [I have to trust people. There's no system of controls that can replace trust, so I need to reinforce that trust, and part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-west/i-have-to-trust-people-there-s-no-system-of-controls-that-can-replace/) [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) > [People who work for me know that they have a lot of autonomy. I like to know what's going on, and I'll offer my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-west/people-who-work-for-me-know-that-they-have-a-lot-of-autonomy-i-like/) [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) > [I'm the eldest of six kids, and I think that may have some significance. I think there's some correlation between maybe being the eldest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-west/i-m-the-eldest-of-six-kids-and-i-think-that-may-have-some/) [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) > [I trust people, and I respect their areas of responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-west/i-trust-people-and-i-respect-their-areas-of-responsibility/) [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) > [You're surrounded by other people all the time. And you have to take responsibility if you're the eldest or one of the older siblings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-west/you-re-surrounded-by-other-people-all-the-time-and-you-have-to-take/) [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) > [My father builds homes. So I grew up around the idea that you can take a piece of land, and you can bulldozer it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-west/my-father-builds-homes-so-i-grew-up-around-the-idea-that-you-can-take/) [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) > [I really appreciate it when people say "no" to me. I want people to understand that I'm totally supportive of what it is they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-west/i-really-appreciate-it-when-people-say-no-to-me-i-want-people-to/) [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) > [Pacing is really important in an organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-west/pacing-is-really-important-in-an-organization/) [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) > [When you're leading, you're generally trying to lead change, and I think it was Roy Amara, who said about technology, "We tend to overestimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-west/when-you-re-leading-you-re-generally-trying-to-lead-change-and-i/) [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) > [I think in most companies you're surrounded by the past. You may have a Web site or archives or a lobby that sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-west/i-think-in-most-companies-you-re-surrounded-by-the-past-you-may-have/) [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) > [I think that's just one type of leadership, which is the type I have: the need to find a new way and take responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-west/i-think-that-s-just-one-type-of-leadership-which-is-the-type-i-have/) [Harry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) [Explore all 13 Harry West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-west/) ## More Amazing things quotes > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [The amazing thing is that we live our lives with the hope that things will go right, that things will happen. And all along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-nakadate/the-amazing-thing-is-that-we-live-our-lives-with-the-hope-that-things/) [Laurel Nakadate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-nakadate/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [So crazy to think that we have only known each other 2 years. its been so amazing and we have got to do so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-direction/so-crazy-to-think-that-we-have-only-known-each-other-2-years-its-been/) [One Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-direction/) > [When you're true to who you are, amazing things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/when-you-re-true-to-who-you-are-amazing-things-happen/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [I always see people tweeting about these crazy amazing things their boyfriend or girlfriend did for them. You shouldn't have to constantly be trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-prokop/i-always-see-people-tweeting-about-these-crazy-amazing-things-their/) [Matt Prokop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-prokop/) > [We can sit and worry about what's going to happen to us two weeks from now. I'd rather focus on the amazing things happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/we-can-sit-and-worry-about-what-s-going-to-happen-to-us-two-weeks/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [I think Li Na and some other Chinese ladies have done so many amazing things for Asian tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/i-think-li-na-and-some-other-chinese-ladies-have-done-so-many-amazing/) [Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/) > [I've had to make time to really explore all the amazing things that are out and try to understand the history of how fashion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-jackson/i-ve-had-to-make-time-to-really-explore-all-the-amazing-things-that/) [Christopher Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-jackson/) > [We thought we completely understood bubbles when we were kids. But we didn't. Bubbles are these amazing things. It's just that people aren't paying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-noddy/we-thought-we-completely-understood-bubbles-when-we-were-kids-but-we/) [Tom Noddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-noddy/) > [Captaining your country, going out at Wembley, captaining Arsenal to 10 trophies, playing your first game - they're all amazing things. But, phew, saving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-adams/captaining-your-country-going-out-at-wembley-captaining-arsenal-to-10/) [Tony Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-adams/) > [There are always groups on campus that are doing amazing things. I know when I was in college, I was a student at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/there-are-always-groups-on-campus-that-are-doing-amazing-things-i/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) [Browse all 498 Amazing things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My parents both left school at 14, but my parents are incredibly smart, successful, thoughtful people. So one of the lessons I learned from my parents is that the fancy degree is just a foot in the door, and there are a lot of very smart people out there who don't necessarily have the fancy degrees. 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