---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All I wanted was to be a university…"
description: "\"All I wanted was to be a university teacher.\" — Jalal Talabani"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/jalal-talabani-15352_mentorship_all-i-wanted-was-to-be-a-university-teac_2115377.jpg"
---

#  All I wanted was to be a university teacher.

![“All I wanted was to be a university teacher.” quote by Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/jalal-talabani-15352_mentorship_all-i-wanted-was-to-be-a-university-teac_2115377.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/jalal-talabani-15352_mentorship_all-i-wanted-was-to-be-a-university-teac_2115377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/jalal-talabani-15352_mentorship_all-i-wanted-was-to-be-a-university-teac_2115377.jpg)

> “All I wanted was to be a university teacher.”

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker expresses a simple, sincere desire for an academic career, reflecting personal ambition.

**In simple terms:** He wanted to become a university teacher.

Key Takeaway

Pursue your true vocational calling.

Themes

education career aspiration

Mood

determined hopeful

Type

career personal

When to use this quote

- Teaching positions
- academic research
- mentorship programs

Key Concepts

Pedagogy public service personal fulfillment

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps will you take toward teaching?
- How does teaching align with your values?

A Different Perspective

May overlook other motivations or challenges.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/)

## Related quotes

> [No, I'm happy to go on living the life I've chosen. I'm a university teacher and I like my job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-tabucchi/no-i-m-happy-to-go-on-living-the-life-i-ve-chosen-i-m-a-university/)

[Antonio Tabucchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-tabucchi/)

> [I wanted to go to university and experience something that I felt like I'd missed. I wanted to be around bright, intelligent young people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-paige/i-wanted-to-go-to-university-and-experience-something-that-i-felt/)

[Yasmin Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-paige/)

> [I have an older brother and an older sister - and they had the time of their lives at university. They were at Newcastle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-leslie/i-have-an-older-brother-and-an-older-sister-and-they-had-the-time-of/)

[Rose Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-leslie/)

> [Around 17 to 20 years, I became, myself, a poacher. And I wanted to do it, because - I believed - to continue my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corneille-ewango/around-17-to-20-years-i-became-myself-a-poacher-and-i-wanted-to-do-it/)

[Corneille Ewango](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corneille-ewango/)

> [The world is a university and everyone in it is a teacher. Make sure when you wake up in the morning you go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/the-world-is-a-university-and-everyone-in-it-is-a-teacher-make-sure/)

[T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/)

> [The thing about being a university teacher is that you're fairly tolerant about young people saying things they shouldn't have said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/the-thing-about-being-a-university-teacher-is-that-you-re-fairly/)

[Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/)

> [I never wanted to go to university: books seemed to have all the answers, and the questions, too. I went to work for Jean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-lumley/i-never-wanted-to-go-to-university-books-seemed-to-have-all-the/)

[Joanna Lumley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-lumley/)

> [My mum wanted me to go to university.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/my-mum-wanted-me-to-go-to-university/)

[Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/)

> [My parents wanted me to go to university, they said I needed something to fall back on and I said: 'No I don't!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-page/my-parents-wanted-me-to-go-to-university-they-said-i-needed-something/)

[Joanna Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-page/)

> [I was 18, and I either wanted to go to university in the States, and experience it like how it is in the movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinie-tempah/i-was-18-and-i-either-wanted-to-go-to-university-in-the-states-and/)

[Tinie Tempah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinie-tempah/)

> [I always wanted to be the best at what I did; I wanted that at university, I wanted the first-class honour and to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-davies/i-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-at-what-i-did-i-wanted-that-at/)

[Sara Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-davies/)

> [“Joyfully we undertake our daily work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/joyfully-we-undertake-our-daily-work/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [I flunked my exam for university two times before I was accepted by what was considered my city's worst university, Hangzhou Teachers University. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-flunked-my-exam-for-university-two-times-before-i-was-accepted-by/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [“The teacher can only provide the lessons, but the student ultimately decides what to learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-teacher-can-only-provide-the-lessons-but-the-student-ultimately/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/)

[Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/)

## More by Jalal Talabani

> [Our plan is to struggle against terrorism and have security for the country and help draft a democratic constitution as soon as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/our-plan-is-to-struggle-against-terrorism-and-have-security-for-the/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [We are not denying that Turkey has a right to defend itself from extremists but some of its actions are not serving any democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/we-are-not-denying-that-turkey-has-a-right-to-defend-itself-from/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [A greater international role is important to lift some of the burden from the shoulders of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/a-greater-international-role-is-important-to-lift-some-of-the-burden/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [Military confrontation is not a suitable alternative in confronting terror and current security threats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/military-confrontation-is-not-a-suitable-alternative-in-confronting/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [We are trying to persuade all the Iraqi opposition to come breathe freedom in Iraq and use liberated Kurdistan as a base for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/we-are-trying-to-persuade-all-the-iraqi-opposition-to-come-breathe/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [As president of Iraq, I shall strive to represent the diversity of a country that has too often in the past denied difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/as-president-of-iraq-i-shall-strive-to-represent-the-diversity-of-a/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [To move any regime you need to have co-operation and co-ordination between Kurds, Shia Arabs, Sunni Arabs, the people and the army. Until we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/to-move-any-regime-you-need-to-have-co-operation-and-co-ordination/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [We must acknowledge that for scores of years the Iraqis have offered martyrs and victims but have not been able to change the regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/we-must-acknowledge-that-for-scores-of-years-the-iraqis-have-offered/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [There is a kind of sympathy with the Americans who are looked upon as liberators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/there-is-a-kind-of-sympathy-with-the-americans-who-are-looked-upon-as/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [Trust is for lovers. In politics there are only converging interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/trust-is-for-lovers-in-politics-there-are-only-converging-interests/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [Justice for the major perpetrators cannot be separated from the vindication of the rights of the individual victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/justice-for-the-major-perpetrators-cannot-be-separated-from-the/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [I must tell you that I am committed, as the president of Iraq, to benchmarks and to do our best to achieve some progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/i-must-tell-you-that-i-am-committed-as-the-president-of-iraq-to/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [Under extremely difficult circumstances (Iraq) pursues the inherently complicated task of rebuilding the country. Yet Iraq continues, courageously, to reach for the promise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/under-extremely-difficult-circumstances-iraq-pursues-the-inherently/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [Our gratitude to the American people is immense and we should never be embarrassed to express it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/our-gratitude-to-the-american-people-is-immense-and-we-should-never/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [No for the return of Saddam's Baath party. This is against the constitution and those who are negotiating to bring them back are violating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/no-for-the-return-of-saddam-s-baath-party-this-is-against-the/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

[Explore all 43 Jalal Talabani quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

## More Mentorship quotes

> [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/)

[Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/)

> [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/)

[LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/)

> [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/)

[Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/)

> [“The teacher can only provide the lessons, but the student ultimately decides what to learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-teacher-can-only-provide-the-lessons-but-the-student-ultimately/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/)

[Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/)

> [Everything I have experienced and learned in football led me towards one day becoming a coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/everything-i-have-experienced-and-learned-in-football-led-me-towards/)

[Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/)

> [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/)

[Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/)

> [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/)

[Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/)

> [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

> [Teachers are heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-best/teachers-are-heroes/)

[Charles Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-best/)

> [No one likes a change of coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-azpilicueta/no-one-likes-a-change-of-coach/)

[Cesar Azpilicueta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-azpilicueta/)

> [You can’t be a successful leader or mentor until you have served. You can’t serve until you have stepped out of your comfort zone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/you-can-t-be-a-successful-leader-or-mentor-until-you-have-served-you/)

[Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/)

> [Everyone and everything around you is your teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-keyes-jr/everyone-and-everything-around-you-is-your-teacher/)

[Ken Keyes Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-keyes-jr/)

> [Learn your craft. You want to be a doctor or a teacher - it's very important to learn your craft and indulge in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-horry/learn-your-craft-you-want-to-be-a-doctor-or-a-teacher-it-s-very/)

[Robert Horry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-horry/)

[Browse all 4,458 Mentorship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "All I wanted was to be a university teacher.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jalal Talabani"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/all-i-wanted-was-to-be-a-university-teacher/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Mentorship"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/all-i-wanted-was-to-be-a-university-teacher/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/jalal-talabani-15352_mentorship_all-i-wanted-was-to-be-a-university-teac_2115377.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/jalal-talabani-15352_mentorship_all-i-wanted-was-to-be-a-university-teac_2115377.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/jalal-talabani-15352_mentorship_all-i-wanted-was-to-be-a-university-teac_2115377.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“All I wanted was to be a university teacher.” — Jalal Talabani",
                "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": "Jalal Talabani",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "All I wanted was to be...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/all-i-wanted-was-to-be-a-university-teacher/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/all-i-wanted-was-to-be-a-university-teacher/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
