--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As for the learning itself, I figured you…" description: "\"“As for the learning itself, I figured you didn't need a college degree to become on of the people who knew what was really going on. If you paid atten..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/jeannette-walls-1378_learning_as-for-the-learning-itself-i-figured-you_2558742.png" --- # As for the learning itself, I figured you didn't need a… ![“As for the learning itself, I figured you didn't need a college degree to become on of the people who knew what was really going on. If you paid attention, you could pick things up on your own.” quote by Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/jeannette-walls-1378_learning_as-for-the-learning-itself-i-figured-you_2558742.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/jeannette-walls-1378_learning_as-for-the-learning-itself-i-figured-you_2558742.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/jeannette-walls-1378_learning_as-for-the-learning-itself-i-figured-you_2558742.png) > ““As for the learning itself, I figured you didn't need a college degree to become on of the people who knew what was really going on. If you paid attention, you could pick things up on your own.”” [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑education can replace formal schooling if you stay attentive and seek knowledge independently. **In simple terms:** You can learn on your own without a degree. Key Takeaway Cultivate curiosity and disciplined self‑learning. Themes education self‑reliance informal learning Mood inspirational empowering Type practical motivational When to use this quote - job hunting - personal development - entrepreneurship - online courses Key Concepts autodidactism critical thinking resourcefulness Questions to Reflect On - What topics could you master without a degree? - How do you verify self‑taught knowledge? A Different Perspective Self‑learning may lack structured guidance or accreditation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Degree People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degree-people-1223290/) [Knew Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-really-250489/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Learning Figured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-figured-1586286/) [People Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-knew/) ## Related quotes > [You didn't need a college degree to become one of the people who knew what was really going on. If you paid attention, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-didn-t-need-a-college-degree-to-become-one-of-the-people-who-knew/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“If people knew that I really am what I say I am,' he said, 'you know they'd never forgive me.' 'Don't worry,' I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/if-people-knew-that-i-really-am-what-i-say-i-am-he-said-you-know-they/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [I'm not saying that you shouldn't go to college or you shouldn't finish your degree, but sometimes people have a very clear vision about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-keoghan/i-m-not-saying-that-you-shouldn-t-go-to-college-or-you-shouldn-t/) [Phil Keoghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-keoghan/) > [I really enjoyed my degree. But there's so many people I went to uni with that didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eniola-aluko/i-really-enjoyed-my-degree-but-there-s-so-many-people-i-went-to-uni/) [Eniola Aluko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eniola-aluko/) > [I've never listed my education degree as why people should vote for me. I think the average person is thinking more about what I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/i-ve-never-listed-my-education-degree-as-why-people-should-vote-for/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [“...you think to yourself that if anyone knew who you really were, what you've really done, they would never accept you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/you-think-to-yourself-that-if-anyone-knew-who-you-really-were-what/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [I really thought I knew you, I really thought I did. But I guess I thought wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-really-thought-i-knew-you-i-really-thought-i-did-but-i-guess-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If only you knew how I really feel about you...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-only-you-knew-how-i-really-feel-about-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Intellectually, she knew no one really died of a broken heart. Emotionally, she suspected some could.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/intellectually-she-knew-no-one-really-died-of-a-broken-heart/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“I knew I was really there, because I was the thing his arms encircled, the thing his love defined.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-ives-gilman/i-knew-i-was-really-there-because-i-was-the-thing-his-arms-encircled/) [Carolyn Ives Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-ives-gilman/) > [I knew that was really the only purpose of life: to be our self, live our truth, and be the love that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-moorjani/i-knew-that-was-really-the-only-purpose-of-life-to-be-our-self-live/) [Anita Moorjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-moorjani/) > [If you only knew who you really are, you'd be starstruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-moran/if-you-only-knew-who-you-really-are-you-d-be-starstruck/) [Victoria Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-moran/) > [I did some acting in high school, I knew I really liked it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-dratch/i-did-some-acting-in-high-school-i-knew-i-really-liked-it/) [Rachel Dratch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-dratch/) > [I think I always knew that I would do something with art because it was the one thing that I knew I was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/i-think-i-always-knew-that-i-would-do-something-with-art-because-it/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [When I first read about Superstore,' I just knew that it would be a really successful show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/when-i-first-read-about-superstore-i-just-knew-that-it-would-be-a/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) ## More by Jeannette Walls > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“You should never hate anyone, not even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You had to find the redeeming quality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-not-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [With a complicated childhood, you can either focus on the positive or the negative, and I chose to focus on the positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/with-a-complicated-childhood-you-can-either-focus-on-the-positive-or/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [She never felt sorry for herself, and that was something I decided I admired most in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/she-never-felt-sorry-for-herself-and-that-was-something-i-decided-i/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“If you want to live in the farmland, haul your sorry hide off to Pennsylvania.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/if-you-want-to-live-in-the-farmland-haul-your-sorry-hide-off-to/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“I WAS SITTING IN a taxi, wondering if I had overdressed for the evening, when I looked out the window and saw Mom rooting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-was-sitting-in-a-taxi-wondering-if-i-had-overdressed-for-the/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [I had the big shoulders; I had the big hair. I loved the '80s. It was all about power women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-had-the-big-shoulders-i-had-the-big-hair-i-loved-the-80s-it-was-all/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [Things usually work out in the end." "What if they don't?" "That just means you haven't come to the end yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/things-usually-work-out-in-the-end-what-if-they-don-t-that-just-means/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“That was the way man was meant to live, he’d say, in harmony with the wild, like the Indians, not this lords-of-the-earth crap, trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/that-was-the-way-man-was-meant-to-live-he-d-say-in-harmony-with-the/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [Sometimes you need a little crisis to get your adrenaline flowing and help you realize your potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/sometimes-you-need-a-little-crisis-to-get-your-adrenaline-flowing-and/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“Don’t be afraid of your dark places,” Mom told her. “If you can shine a light on them, you’ll find treasure there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/don-t-be-afraid-of-your-dark-places-mom-told-her-if-you-can-shine-a/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [I hate Erma," I told Mom... "You have to show compassion for her..." She added that you should never hate anyone, even your worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-hate-erma-i-told-mom-you-have-to-show-compassion-for-her-she-added/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“Sad state to spend your life in. Being afraid of your own self." Rex Walls”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/sad-state-to-spend-your-life-in-being-afraid-of-your-own-self-rex/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [I was so worried that people wouldn't like me or my story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-was-so-worried-that-people-wouldn-t-like-me-or-my-story/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“the surest way to feel rich was to invest in quality nonessentials.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/the-surest-way-to-feel-rich-was-to-invest-in-quality-nonessentials/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) [Explore all 247 Jeannette Walls quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) ## More Learning quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“Men mistook measurement for understanding. And they always had to put themselves at the center of everything. That was their greatest conceit. The earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/men-mistook-measurement-for-understanding-and-they-always-had-to-put/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Learning from the best, you will eventually become the best if you have the talent already, if you have that potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-orton/learning-from-the-best-you-will-eventually-become-the-best-if-you/) [Randy Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-orton/) > [Everything I do is more memorable and I understand music more than ever now. It's not a burden to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungri/everything-i-do-is-more-memorable-and-i-understand-music-more-than/) [Seungri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungri/) > [“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. (Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-hilda-doolittle/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [once in awhile you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look it right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/once-in-awhile-you-get-shown-the-light-in-the-strangest-of-places-if/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [Would she understand that time had stopped while she was gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/would-she-understand-that-time-had-stopped-while-she-was-gone/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [“Damen's understanding of Laurent rearranged itself, in order that he might despise him more accurately.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/damen-s-understanding-of-laurent-rearranged-itself-in-order-that-he/) [S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/) [Browse all 22,300 Learning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As for the learning itself, I figured you didn't need a college degree to become on of the people who knew what was really going on. 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