--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being self-taught is no disgrace; but…" description: "\"Being self-taught is no disgrace; but being self-certified is another matter.\" — Hugh Nibley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/hugh-nibley-13330_certified_being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-bei_670110.jpg" --- # Being self-taught is no disgrace; but being self-certified… ![“Being self-taught is no disgrace; but being self-certified is another matter.” quote by Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/hugh-nibley-13330_certified_being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-bei_670110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/hugh-nibley-13330_certified_being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-bei_670110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/hugh-nibley-13330_certified_being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-bei_670110.jpg) > “Being self-taught is no disgrace; but being self-certified is another matter.” [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning independently is respectable; claiming expertise without proof is problematic. **In simple terms:** Self‑learning is fine, but false credentials are not. Key Takeaway Seek verification for claimed expertise. Themes education integrity expertise Mood skeptical thoughtful Type critical advice When to use this quote - job interview - consulting - academic publishing - online courses Key Concepts credentialism self‑assessment Questions to Reflect On - Do you verify your own qualifications? - How do you assess others’ expertise? A Different Perspective Unverified claims can damage trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certified/) [Certified Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certified-matter-5321987/) [Disgrace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disgrace/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Certified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-certified-5321986/) [Self taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-taught/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes one must try anything, it is no disgrace. On the contrary, it is a sign of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/sometimes-one-must-try-anything-it-is-no-disgrace-on-the-contrary-it/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [There is but a step between a proud man's glory and his disgrace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/there-is-but-a-step-between-a-proud-man-s-glory-and-his-disgrace/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [To those whose God is honor; only disgrace is a sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/to-those-whose-god-is-honor-only-disgrace-is-a-sin/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) > [Poverty is no disgrace to a man, but it is confoundedly inconvenient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/poverty-is-no-disgrace-to-a-man-but-it-is-confoundedly-inconvenient/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [All lies, white or black, disgrace a gentleman, although I grant there is a difference: to say the least of it, it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-marryat/all-lies-white-or-black-disgrace-a-gentleman-although-i-grant-there/) [Frederick Marryat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-marryat/) > [There is no disgrace in peace. There can never be dishonor in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-llywelyn/there-is-no-disgrace-in-peace-there-can-never-be-dishonor-in-peace/) [Morgan Llywelyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-llywelyn/) > [I had the feeling that if I encountered anyone they would intuit my disgrace and would judge me instantly. Nothing is more isolating than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/i-had-the-feeling-that-if-i-encountered-anyone-they-would-intuit-my/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [He will be the last to discover the disgrace of his house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/he-will-be-the-last-to-discover-the-disgrace-of-his-house/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [“a little modesty averts disgrace”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bemy-wells/a-little-modesty-averts-disgrace/) [Bemy Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bemy-wells/) > [Poverty of course is no disgrace, but it is damned annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt/poverty-of-course-is-no-disgrace-but-it-is-damned-annoying/) [William Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt/) > [Losing is no disgrace if you've given your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-palmer/losing-is-no-disgrace-if-you-ve-given-your-best/) [Jim Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-palmer/) > [If I wrote at all, I must throw myself headlong into the great political maelstrom, and would of course be swallowed up like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/if-i-wrote-at-all-i-must-throw-myself-headlong-into-the-great/) [Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/) > [“My psychiatrist said I had charisma so at least I'm certified”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/my-psychiatrist-said-i-had-charisma-so-at-least-i-m-certified/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [As someone who came to New York in the 1970s, I was, like so many of my friends, a certified member of what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graydon-carter/as-someone-who-came-to-new-york-in-the-1970s-i-was-like-so-many-of-my/) [Graydon Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graydon-carter/) > [I was never a Certified Public Accountant... I just had a degree in accounting. The reason I was never a Certified Public Accountant was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-was-never-a-certified-public-accountant-i-just-had-a-degree-in/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) ## More by Hugh Nibley > [Joseph Smith could not have picked a better year to start The Book of Mormon than 600 B.C.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/joseph-smith-could-not-have-picked-a-better-year-to-start-the-book-of/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [ \[Eve\] sees through Satan's disquise of clever hypocrisy, identifies him, and exposes him for what he is...\[ever since Satan has\] had it in for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/eve-sees-through-satan-s-disquise-of-clever-hypocrisy-identifies-him/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [The worst sinners, according to Jesus, are not the harlots and publicans, but the religious leaders with their insistence on proper dress and grooming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-worst-sinners-according-to-jesus-are-not-the-harlots-and/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Only if you reach the boundary will the boundary recede before you. And if you don't, if you confine your efforts, the boundary will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/only-if-you-reach-the-boundary-will-the-boundary-recede-before-you/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [“Blindness to larger contexts is a constitutional defect of human thinking imposed by the painful necessity of being able to concentrate on only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/blindness-to-larger-contexts-is-a-constitutional-defect-of-human/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Careerism is the determination to reign in hell rather than serve in heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/careerism-is-the-determination-to-reign-in-hell-rather-than-serve-in/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [The very helplessness of the public which makes it necessary for them to consult the experts also makes it impossible for them to judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-very-helplessness-of-the-public-which-makes-it-necessary-for-them/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [The unique value of Christianity lies in those things which would never in a million years occur to men if left to themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-unique-value-of-christianity-lies-in-those-things-which-would/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Who is righteous? Anyone who is repenting. No matter how bad he has been, if he is repenting he is a righteous man. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/who-is-righteous-anyone-who-is-repenting-no-matter-how-bad-he-has/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Competitiveness always rests on the assumption of a life-and-death struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/competitiveness-always-rests-on-the-assumption-of-a-life-and-death/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Why do people feel guilty about TV? What is wrong with it? Just this: it shuts out all the wonderful things of which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/why-do-people-feel-guilty-about-tv-what-is-wrong-with-it-just-this-it/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Nobody loves the rat race, but nobody can think of anything else—Satan has us just where he wants us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/nobody-loves-the-rat-race-but-nobody-can-think-of-anything-else-satan/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Why read the Book of Mormon? Because angels do not come on trivial errands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/why-read-the-book-of-mormon-because-angels-do-not-come-on-trivial/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [If you pray for an angel to visit you, you know what he'll do if he comes. He'll just quote the scriptures to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/if-you-pray-for-an-angel-to-visit-you-you-know-what-he-ll-do-if-he/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [“You can always somebody who is worse than you are to make you feel virtuous. It's a cheap shot: those awful terrorists, perverts, communists--they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/you-can-always-somebody-who-is-worse-than-you-are-to-make-you-feel/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) [Explore all 50 Hugh Nibley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) ## More Certified quotes > [As someone who came to New York in the 1970s, I was, like so many of my friends, a certified member of what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graydon-carter/as-someone-who-came-to-new-york-in-the-1970s-i-was-like-so-many-of-my/) [Graydon Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graydon-carter/) > [“My psychiatrist said I had charisma so at least I'm certified”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/my-psychiatrist-said-i-had-charisma-so-at-least-i-m-certified/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [I was never a Certified Public Accountant... I just had a degree in accounting. The reason I was never a Certified Public Accountant was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-was-never-a-certified-public-accountant-i-just-had-a-degree-in/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [If Al Gore had allowed us and if the Florida Supreme Court had not intervened and rewritten the law, which they're not supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-harris/if-al-gore-had-allowed-us-and-if-the-florida-supreme-court-had-not/) [Katherine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-harris/) > [“Certification from one source or another seems to be the most important thing to people all over the world. A piece of paper from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/certification-from-one-source-or-another-seems-to-be-the-most/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [“Being certified as a user means you have basic knowledge and can turn things on and off;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/being-certified-as-a-user-means-you-have-basic-knowledge-and-can-turn/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [If I change my name again y'all can have me certified as crazy. Alright?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-change-my-name-again-y-all-can-have-me-certified-as-crazy-alright/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To have transactions made on your web site via credit card, you must be PCI compliant. Businesses make the mistake of thinking that because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mitnick/to-have-transactions-made-on-your-web-site-via-credit-card-you-must/) [Kevin Mitnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mitnick/) > [Every word I wrote in my book is documented, certified, true, and correct. The truth wins, and that is my picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/every-word-i-wrote-in-my-book-is-documented-certified-true-and/) [Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/) > [I was certified to take x-rays, but you can't just show up and start cleaning people's teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-was-certified-to-take-x-rays-but-you-can-t-just-show-up-and-start/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [I am a certified yoga teacher and I love to cycle and swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-buono/i-am-a-certified-yoga-teacher-and-i-love-to-cycle-and-swim/) [Cara Buono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-buono/) > [I'm not anymore because I haven't kept up with my certification, but I was a certified actor combatant in rapier, dagger, hand-to-hand, and quarterstaff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-brandt/i-m-not-anymore-because-i-haven-t-kept-up-with-my-certification-but-i/) [Betsy Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-brandt/) > [I think because I am as earnest as I am, people were accepting of my evolving into a certified, legitimate, and grown up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-because-i-am-as-earnest-as-i-am-people-were-accepting-of-my/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [When in doubt about what to watch, I tend to opt for guaranteed, certified lols.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vick-hope/when-in-doubt-about-what-to-watch-i-tend-to-opt-for-guaranteed/) [Vick Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vick-hope/) > [I am a certified hippie and I love nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richa-chadha/i-am-a-certified-hippie-and-i-love-nature/) [Richa Chadha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richa-chadha/) [Browse all 28 Certified quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certified/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being self-taught is no disgrace; but being self-certified is another matter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hugh Nibley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-being-self-certified-is-another/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Certified" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-being-self-certified-is-another/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/hugh-nibley-13330_certified_being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-bei_670110.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/hugh-nibley-13330_certified_being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-bei_670110.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/hugh-nibley-13330_certified_being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-bei_670110.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being self-taught is no disgrace; but being self-certified is another matter.” — Hugh Nibley", "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": "Hugh Nibley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Being self-taught is no disgrace; but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-being-self-certified-is-another/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-being-self-certified-is-another/#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 } } ] } ```