--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's one thing to skip class to play…" description: "\"It's one thing to skip class to play poker, but if I'm learning how to think in the real world playing poker, then maybe that's more valuable than a co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/james-holzhauer-8135_education_it-s-one-thing-to-skip-class-to-play-pok_551779.jpg" --- # It's one thing to skip class to play poker, but if I'm… ![“It's one thing to skip class to play poker, but if I'm learning how to think in the real world playing poker, then maybe that's more valuable than a college education could've been.” quote by James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/james-holzhauer-8135_education_it-s-one-thing-to-skip-class-to-play-pok_551779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/james-holzhauer-8135_education_it-s-one-thing-to-skip-class-to-play-pok_551779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/james-holzhauer-8135_education_it-s-one-thing-to-skip-class-to-play-pok_551779.jpg) > “It's one thing to skip class to play poker, but if I'm learning how to think in the real world playing poker, then maybe that's more valuable than a college education could've been.” [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning real-world strategic thinking through poker can offer practical skills that sometimes outweigh formal education. **In simple terms:** Poker teaches valuable real-world skills. Key Takeaway Leverage experiential learning for practical insight. Themes education strategy real-world learning Mood analytical curious Type reflective informative When to use this quote - career development - financial planning - skill acquisition - alternative education paths Key Concepts decision making risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate formal and experiential learning? - What skills from poker apply to your field? A Different Perspective Formal education provides foundational knowledge that experiential learning may lack. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Poker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poker/) [Real world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I like to play poker. I have a nice poker group that's been going on for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-pascal/i-like-to-play-poker-i-have-a-nice-poker-group-that-s-been-going-on/) [Francine Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-pascal/) > [Here's a freebie: Don't play poker with a kid who can read minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/here-s-a-freebie-don-t-play-poker-with-a-kid-who-can-read-minds-2/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [In the same way I wanted to learn how to play poker, I've always kind of been into the blues. It just seems like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/in-the-same-way-i-wanted-to-learn-how-to-play-poker-i-ve-always-kind/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [Anybody who likes to play poker, if you want to find a good poker game, you're going to go play. It's not anything where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-vilma/anybody-who-likes-to-play-poker-if-you-want-to-find-a-good-poker-game/) [Jonathan Vilma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-vilma/) > [When you're willing to play poker for two days and lose millions of dollars, it's no longer recreation. It's taking over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-bloom/when-you-re-willing-to-play-poker-for-two-days-and-lose-millions-of/) [Molly Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-bloom/) > [I have a house, with two big plasma-screen TVs, two dogs, a grill, chessboard. I like to keep it low-key: invite friends over, order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-padalecki/i-have-a-house-with-two-big-plasma-screen-tvs-two-dogs-a-grill/) [Jared Padalecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-padalecki/) > [When I play poker, my cards r Hearts and Queens only no matter how u shuffle 'em cuz even the Queens n all Bitches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-quperlier/when-i-play-poker-my-cards-r-hearts-and-queens-only-no-matter-how-u/) [Simon Quperlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-quperlier/) > [I play poker face to face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/i-play-poker-face-to-face/) [Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/) > [When I play poker, I don't like losing the pot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/when-i-play-poker-i-don-t-like-losing-the-pot/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [“I learned how to play poker from a one-eyed giant with no teeth and breath that smelled like a box of rotting armpits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-m-liu/i-learned-how-to-play-poker-from-a-one-eyed-giant-with-no-teeth-and/) [Marjorie M. Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-m-liu/) > [The competition has improved tremendously. In 2003, I could teach a guy how to play poker in an hour and he could win some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-moneymaker/the-competition-has-improved-tremendously-in-2003-i-could-teach-a-guy/) [Chris Moneymaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-moneymaker/) > [“All the kids with fancy shoes or clothes, do you know what I got with a family of nine? When ever we said let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-marriott/all-the-kids-with-fancy-shoes-or-clothes-do-you-know-what-i-got-with/) Julia Marriott > [I know Charles Michael Davis. I used to play poker with him when I lived in Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-morgan/i-know-charles-michael-davis-i-used-to-play-poker-with-him-when-i/) [Joseph Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-morgan/) > [Poker is a charismatic game. People who are larger than life play poker and make their living from playing games and hustling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/poker-is-a-charismatic-game-people-who-are-larger-than-life-play/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [I dropped out of school to play poker, and at 21, I moved from Toronto to try my luck as a pro in Vegas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-negreanu/i-dropped-out-of-school-to-play-poker-and-at-21-i-moved-from-toronto/) [Daniel Negreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-negreanu/) ## More by James Holzhauer > [There's a lot of attention on me which can be good, it can be bad. Sometimes my daughter's acting up in public and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/there-s-a-lot-of-attention-on-me-which-can-be-good-it-can-be-bad/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [You need to pick your spots and bet big when you identify them. That's basically my 'Jeopardy!' strategy in a nutshell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/you-need-to-pick-your-spots-and-bet-big-when-you-identify-them-that-s/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [It definitely helps that I can bet big with ice water in my veins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/it-definitely-helps-that-i-can-bet-big-with-ice-water-in-my-veins/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [In gambling, you usually start to go wrong when you deviate from your pregame strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/in-gambling-you-usually-start-to-go-wrong-when-you-deviate-from-your/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [The first bet I remember was on the Chargers in Super Bowl 29 with my classmates. I lost a lot of weeks' allowance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/the-first-bet-i-remember-was-on-the-chargers-in-super-bowl-29-with-my/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [I hope that my 'Jeopardy' run helps destigmatize sports betting because I have certainly dealt with some stigmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/i-hope-that-my-jeopardy-run-helps-destigmatize-sports-betting-because/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [All good professional gamblers are selectively aggressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/all-good-professional-gamblers-are-selectively-aggressive/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [I went to Illinois. Most people think I went to Princeton or something. But I was never a diligent student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/i-went-to-illinois-most-people-think-i-went-to-princeton-or-something/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [Anytime you learn something new, you're just trying to file it away - might be useful one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/anytime-you-learn-something-new-you-re-just-trying-to-file-it-away/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [I get mad at football coaches who are afraid to call for a big play early in the game, you know, because they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/i-get-mad-at-football-coaches-who-are-afraid-to-call-for-a-big-play/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [I've found that in an adult reference book, if it's not a subject I'm interested in, I just can't get into it. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/i-ve-found-that-in-an-adult-reference-book-if-it-s-not-a-subject-i-m/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [The last real job I had I was 16-years-old slinging fried chicken in my hometown of Naperville, Ill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/the-last-real-job-i-had-i-was-16-years-old-slinging-fried-chicken-in/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [There were times in school where I would say, 'I should go to class.' But I could make $100 playing online poker if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/there-were-times-in-school-where-i-would-say-i-should-go-to-class-but/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [I really like not having to justify my decisions to anyone else, as well as the freedom to vacation whenever I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/i-really-like-not-having-to-justify-my-decisions-to-anyone-else-as/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [I'm a pro sports gambler. You have winning days and you have losing days. 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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/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) Ioannes Amos Commenius > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) H.D. 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If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's one thing to skip class to play poker, but if I'm learning how to think in the real world playing poker, then maybe that's more valuable than a college education could've been.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Holzhauer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/it-s-one-thing-to-skip-class-to-play-poker-but-if-i-m-learning-how-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Education" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/it-s-one-thing-to-skip-class-to-play-poker-but-if-i-m-learning-how-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/james-holzhauer-8135_education_it-s-one-thing-to-skip-class-to-play-pok_551779.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/james-holzhauer-8135_education_it-s-one-thing-to-skip-class-to-play-pok_551779.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/james-holzhauer-8135_education_it-s-one-thing-to-skip-class-to-play-pok_551779.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's one thing to skip class to play poker, but if I'm learning how to think in the real world playing…” — James Holzhauer", "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": "James Holzhauer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's one thing to skip class...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/it-s-one-thing-to-skip-class-to-play-poker-but-if-i-m-learning-how-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/it-s-one-thing-to-skip-class-to-play-poker-but-if-i-m-learning-how-to/#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 } } ] } ```