Ability Quote by John Irving
“It seems to me that people who don’t learn as easily as others suffer from a kind of learning disability—there is something different about the way they comprehend unfamiliar material—but I fail to see how this disability is improved by psychiatric consultation. What seems to be lacking is a technical ability that those of us called ‘good students’ are born with. Someone should concretely study these skills and teach them. What does a shrink have to do with the process?”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 1994
The speaker argues that learning challenges stem from a lack of teach technical skills rather than a psychiatric condition, urging systematic study and teaching of those skills.
In simple terms: Learning issues are seen as skill gaps, not mental illness.
Key Takeaway
Focus on teaching concrete learning techniques.
Themes
education
learning
psychology
skill development
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
explanatory
When to use this quote
- classroom instruction
- curriculum design
- teacher training
- self‑study programs
- policy making
Key Concepts
cognitive psychology
educational theory
neuroscience
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we differentiate skill gaps from deeper cognitive issues?
- What methods best teach these technical abilities?
A Different Perspective
The claim may overlook underlying neurological or emotional factors that affect learning.
![“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said crossly. "LOOK AT THOSE WEIRDO TV MIRACLE-WORKERS--THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! BUT THE REAL MIRACLES AREN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70e/john-irving-337_atheists_just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-bet_31804.jpg)
