--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You learn how to be book smart in school…" description: "\"You learn how to be book smart in school, but you better not forget that you also need to be street smart.\" — Harvey Mackay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/harvey-mackay-1775_also_you-learn-how-to-be-book-smart-in-school_573455.png" --- # You learn how to be book smart in school, but you better… ![“You learn how to be book smart in school, but you better not forget that you also need to be street smart.” quote by Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/harvey-mackay-1775_also_you-learn-how-to-be-book-smart-in-school_573455.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/harvey-mackay-1775_also_you-learn-how-to-be-book-smart-in-school_573455.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/harvey-mackay-1775_also_you-learn-how-to-be-book-smart-in-school_573455.png) > “You learn how to be book smart in school, but you better not forget that you also need to be street smart.” [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Academic knowledge is valuable, but practical street smarts are essential for real‑world success. **In simple terms:** Both book sm and street smarts matter. Key Takeaway Balance theory with practice. Themes education practicality experience wisdom Mood pragmatic encouraging Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career planning - entrepreneurship - networking - problem solving Key Concepts learning theory situational intelligence Questions to Reflect On - When is street smarts more useful? - How to develop practical insight? A Different Perspective Overreliance on theory can cause missteps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street/) [Street smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street-smart/) ## Related quotes > [“You leave your neighborhood but you never want to forget where you came from," he says. "I have the best of best worlds. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-leave-your-neighborhood-but-you-never-want-to-forget-where-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For being book smart, I thought he (A. Barlett Giamatti) had a lot of street smarts, which is tough to find sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitey-herzog/for-being-book-smart-i-thought-he-a-barlett-giamatti-had-a-lot-of/) [Whitey Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitey-herzog/) > [Book smart and street smart. The best of both worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/book-smart-and-street-smart-the-best-of-both-worlds/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was pretty smart in school in terms of grades and stuff. I just got the bug to do music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jax-jones/i-was-pretty-smart-in-school-in-terms-of-grades-and-stuff-i-just-got/) [Jax Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jax-jones/) > [We know at lot more now than the 'last time around the 1960s and 1970s - about how to work for smart schools... '…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-perkins/we-know-at-lot-more-now-than-the-last-time-around-the-1960s-and-1970s/) [David Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-perkins/) > [I was always really smart in school. My whole family is smart. We have 'Jeopardy' challenges and have Scrabble tournaments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-ma/i-was-always-really-smart-in-school-my-whole-family-is-smart-we-have/) [Remy Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-ma/) > [I went to a really smart school where all the kids go to the Ivy Leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-bregman/i-went-to-a-really-smart-school-where-all-the-kids-go-to-the-ivy/) [Alex Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-bregman/) > [I've always been, like, a book-smart person; I'm very into language and reading, and that really lends itself to comedy, because you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-ve-always-been-like-a-book-smart-person-i-m-very-into-language-and/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [“The author respectfully dedicates this book to everyone who is almost as smart as they think they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/the-author-respectfully-dedicates-this-book-to-everyone-who-is-almost/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [I went to school, I went to college. I know how to read. Even though I lack common sense sometimes, I am book smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-polizzi/i-went-to-school-i-went-to-college-i-know-how-to-read-even-though-i/) [Nicole Polizzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-polizzi/) > [I may not be book smart, but I'm smart enough to protect your heart.\*](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-may-not-be-book-smart-but-i-m-smart-enough-to-protect-your-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I may not be all that book smart but I am not dumb, it's people who are book smart but don't realize how the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayse-west/i-may-not-be-all-that-book-smart-but-i-am-not-dumb-it-s-people-who/) [Ayse West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayse-west/) > [“I know how it works, Esther. I graduated from Harvard." "Book-smart, but life-stupid," said Esther.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/i-know-how-it-works-esther-i-graduated-from-harvard-book-smart-but/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [I wasn't a smart kid and I still don't think I'm too smart when it comes to book smart, but I was very good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-angel/i-wasn-t-a-smart-kid-and-i-still-don-t-think-i-m-too-smart-when-it/) [Criss Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-angel/) > [I'm not really book-smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/i-m-not-really-book-smart/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) ## More by Harvey Mackay > [It doesn't matter if they say you can't do it. It only matters if you say you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-doesn-t-matter-if-they-say-you-can-t-do-it-it-only-matters-if-you/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about those who don’t. Believe everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/life-is-too-short-to-wake-up-with-regrets-so-love-the-people-who/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Be like the turtle. If he didn't stick his neck out, he wouldn't get anywhere at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/be-like-the-turtle-if-he-didn-t-stick-his-neck-out-he-wouldn-t-get/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Keep the customer actively involved throughout your presentation, and watch your results improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/keep-the-customer-actively-involved-throughout-your-presentation-and/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Your workforce is your most valuable asset. 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