---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had an issue with dyslexia before they…"
description: "\"I had an issue with dyslexia before they understood what dyslexia was. One of my teachers, Mrs. Anderson, taught me to look at it like a curveball. The..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/john-t-chambers-7002_look_i-had-an-issue-with-dyslexia-before-they_2208843.jpg"
---

#  I had an issue with dyslexia before they understood what…

![“I had an issue with dyslexia before they understood what dyslexia was. One of my teachers, Mrs. Anderson, taught me to look at it like a curveball. The ball breaks the same way every time. Once you get used to it, you can handle it pretty well.” quote by John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/john-t-chambers-7002_look_i-had-an-issue-with-dyslexia-before-they_2208843.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/john-t-chambers-7002_look_i-had-an-issue-with-dyslexia-before-they_2208843.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/john-t-chambers-7002_look_i-had-an-issue-with-dyslexia-before-they_2208843.jpg)

> “I had an issue with dyslexia before they understood what dyslexia was. One of my teachers, Mrs. Anderson, taught me to look at it like a curveball. The ball breaks the same way every time. Once you get used to it, you can handle it pretty well.”

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

## About This Quote

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

Viewing dyslexia as a predictable curveball helps normalize the challenge and develop coping strategies.

**In simple terms:** Treat dyslexia like a repeatable problem to manage.

Key Takeaway

Adapt mindset to handle dyslexia.

Themes

education neurodiversity resilience

Mood

encouraging reflective

Type

motivational educational

When to use this quote

- classroom learning
- self‑study
- coaching sessions

Key Concepts

cognitive framing skill development mental models

Questions to Reflect On

- How can educators personalize support beyond simple analogies?
- What other metaphors aid learning challenges?

A Different Perspective

Metaphor may oversimplify complex neurological differences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ball Breaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-breaks-3865543/) [Dyslexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dyslexia/) [Dyslexia Teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dyslexia-teachers-4447062/) [Dyslexia Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dyslexia-understood-4808777/) [Issue Dyslexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issue-dyslexia-4882574/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood/) [Understood Dyslexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood-dyslexia-4447061/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [Back when I was in school, few people understood dyslexia and what to do for it. My teachers thought I was lazy and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/back-when-i-was-in-school-few-people-understood-dyslexia-and-what-to/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [I hated school . . . . One of the reasons was a learning disability, dyslexia, which no one understood at the time. I still can't spell . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-hated-school-one-of-the-reasons-was-a-learning-disability-dyslexia/)

[Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/)

> [I can't putt. The reasons are infinite. When lining up a putt, I can't remember if the ball always breaks to the ocean or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/i-can-t-putt-the-reasons-are-infinite-when-lining-up-a-putt-i-can-t/)

[Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/)

> [It would surprise you how many government and business leaders with dyslexia. Some people view it as a weakness, and maybe it is. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/it-would-surprise-you-how-many-government-and-business-leaders-with/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [The more we learn about dyslexia, the more able we will be to help those with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/the-more-we-learn-about-dyslexia-the-more-able-we-will-be-to-help/)

[Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/)

> [ Somebody said, 'Hey, there is a lull in your career. Why don't you write books about your \[dyslexia\]?' We are currently writing our 34th… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-winkler/somebody-said-hey-there-is-a-lull-in-your-career-why-don-t-you-write/)

[Henry Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-winkler/)

> [I have made number mistakes - I have such bad number dyslexia that I can look at a number and see the wrong one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/i-have-made-number-mistakes-i-have-such-bad-number-dyslexia-that-i/)

[Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/)

> [“You can't get dyslexia from pussy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-easton-ellis/you-can-t-get-dyslexia-from-pussy/)

[Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/)

> [Hooked on Phonics worked for me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/hooked-on-phonics-worked-for-me/)

[Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/)

> [I was trouble - and always in trouble. Aged eight I still couldn't read. In fact, I was dyslexic and short-sighted. Despite sitting at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-was-trouble-and-always-in-trouble-aged-eight-i-still-couldn-t-read/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [Perhaps my early problems with dyslexia made me more intuitive: when someone sends me a written proposal, rather than dwelling on detailed facts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/perhaps-my-early-problems-with-dyslexia-made-me-more-intuitive-when/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [If anybody has walked down the road and someone says turn left and you take a right that's a form of dyslexia. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/if-anybody-has-walked-down-the-road-and-someone-says-turn-left-and/)

[Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/)

> [I want people to know that you can have dyslexia and still reach your goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-ryan/i-want-people-to-know-that-you-can-have-dyslexia-and-still-reach-your/)

[Rex Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-ryan/)

> [There is a talent in dyslexia - it can help you see things creatively. So I wouldn't change a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-william-middleton/there-is-a-talent-in-dyslexia-it-can-help-you-see-things-creatively/)

[James William Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-william-middleton/)

> [A lot of people say they are dyslexic; some have to realize that they are just stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/a-lot-of-people-say-they-are-dyslexic-some-have-to-realize-that-they/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

## More by John T. Chambers

> [Today's world requires a different leadership style - more collaboration and teamwork, including using Web 2.0 technologies. If you had told me I'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/today-s-world-requires-a-different-leadership-style-more/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [I am a proud moderate republican. But I like democrats as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/i-am-a-proud-moderate-republican-but-i-like-democrats-as-well/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [We don't go into a market without a chance of a 40 percent share and sustainable differentiation. We wouldn't get into wiring oil rigs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/we-don-t-go-into-a-market-without-a-chance-of-a-40-percent-share-and/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [Every company, city, and country is becoming digital, navigating disruptive markets, and Cisco's role in the digital transformation has never been more important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/every-company-city-and-country-is-becoming-digital-navigating/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [To go back to a 1950s voice mentality with Title II and net neutrality would be a tremendous mistake for our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/to-go-back-to-a-1950s-voice-mentality-with-title-ii-and-net/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [There are two types of companies: those that have been hacked, and those who don't know they have been hacked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/there-are-two-types-of-companies-those-that-have-been-hacked-and/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [The window was open for us to play in the consumer as data, voice, video came together. This is where you have to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/the-window-was-open-for-us-to-play-in-the-consumer-as-data-voice/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [Once you put in backdoors, once you allow a government to intercept anything they want, you have to give it to other governments around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/once-you-put-in-backdoors-once-you-allow-a-government-to-intercept/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [What makes Silicon Valley really work? It's a unique combination of great educational institutions - especially at Stanford - that generate engineers and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/what-makes-silicon-valley-really-work-it-s-a-unique-combination-of/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [We're going to become the number one security company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/we-re-going-to-become-the-number-one-security-company/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [Some people need a command-and-control environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/some-people-need-a-command-and-control-environment/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [When a market isn't in transition, gaining market share is hard - you're fighting to take one or two points of share from competitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/when-a-market-isn-t-in-transition-gaining-market-share-is-hard-you-re/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [We want a culture where it is unacceptable not to share what you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/we-want-a-culture-where-it-is-unacceptable-not-to-share-what-you-know/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [When you're a large company with significant market share, it's tempting to view market disruptions as a threat, but we view them as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/when-you-re-a-large-company-with-significant-market-share-it-s/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

> [People who might normally have to travel hours to a distant city to see a cardiologist can now do so virtually, through Cisco technology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/people-who-might-normally-have-to-travel-hours-to-a-distant-city-to/)

[John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

[Explore all 95 John T. Chambers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/)

## More Dyslexia quotes

> [A lot of people say they are dyslexic; some have to realize that they are just stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/a-lot-of-people-say-they-are-dyslexic-some-have-to-realize-that-they/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [There is a talent in dyslexia - it can help you see things creatively. So I wouldn't change a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-william-middleton/there-is-a-talent-in-dyslexia-it-can-help-you-see-things-creatively/)

[James William Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-william-middleton/)

> [I want people to know that you can have dyslexia and still reach your goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-ryan/i-want-people-to-know-that-you-can-have-dyslexia-and-still-reach-your/)

[Rex Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-ryan/)

> [If anybody has walked down the road and someone says turn left and you take a right that's a form of dyslexia. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/if-anybody-has-walked-down-the-road-and-someone-says-turn-left-and/)

[Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/)

> [Perhaps my early problems with dyslexia made me more intuitive: when someone sends me a written proposal, rather than dwelling on detailed facts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/perhaps-my-early-problems-with-dyslexia-made-me-more-intuitive-when/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [I was trouble - and always in trouble. Aged eight I still couldn't read. In fact, I was dyslexic and short-sighted. Despite sitting at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-was-trouble-and-always-in-trouble-aged-eight-i-still-couldn-t-read/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [Hooked on Phonics worked for me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/hooked-on-phonics-worked-for-me/)

[Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/)

> [“You can't get dyslexia from pussy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-easton-ellis/you-can-t-get-dyslexia-from-pussy/)

[Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/)

> [I have made number mistakes - I have such bad number dyslexia that I can look at a number and see the wrong one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/i-have-made-number-mistakes-i-have-such-bad-number-dyslexia-that-i/)

[Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/)

> [ Somebody said, 'Hey, there is a lull in your career. Why don't you write books about your \[dyslexia\]?' We are currently writing our 34th… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-winkler/somebody-said-hey-there-is-a-lull-in-your-career-why-don-t-you-write/)

[Henry Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-winkler/)

> [The more we learn about dyslexia, the more able we will be to help those with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/the-more-we-learn-about-dyslexia-the-more-able-we-will-be-to-help/)

[Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/)

> [While I was writing the book, one of my children was diagnosed with dyslexia. Dyslexia is a very tiny word for a wide-ranging neurological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-o-farrell/while-i-was-writing-the-book-one-of-my-children-was-diagnosed-with/)

[Maggie O'Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-o-farrell/)

> [I couldn't sit down and write a novel or a short story - even now - because of my dyslexia. But I learned narration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/i-couldn-t-sit-down-and-write-a-novel-or-a-short-story-even-now/)

[Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/)

> [With my recovery programme, I have to do a daily inventory of how my day has been. I am terribly dyslexic and have attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/with-my-recovery-programme-i-have-to-do-a-daily-inventory-of-how-my/)

[Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/)

> [It caused more problems as a young kid, because the simple process of perceiving words on a piece of paper was hard for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-jenner/it-caused-more-problems-as-a-young-kid-because-the-simple-process-of/)

[Bruce Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-jenner/)

[Browse all 180 Dyslexia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dyslexia/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I had an issue with dyslexia before they understood what dyslexia was. One of my teachers, Mrs. Anderson, taught me to look at it like a curveball. The ball breaks the same way every time. Once you get used to it, you can handle it pretty well.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John T. Chambers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/i-had-an-issue-with-dyslexia-before-they-understood-what-dyslexia-was/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dyslexia"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/i-had-an-issue-with-dyslexia-before-they-understood-what-dyslexia-was/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/john-t-chambers-7002_look_i-had-an-issue-with-dyslexia-before-they_2208843.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/john-t-chambers-7002_look_i-had-an-issue-with-dyslexia-before-they_2208843.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/john-t-chambers-7002_look_i-had-an-issue-with-dyslexia-before-they_2208843.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I had an issue with dyslexia before they understood what dyslexia was. One of my teachers, Mrs. Anderson…” — John T. Chambers",
                "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": "John T. Chambers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I had an issue with dyslexia...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/i-had-an-issue-with-dyslexia-before-they-understood-what-dyslexia-was/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/i-had-an-issue-with-dyslexia-before-they-understood-what-dyslexia-was/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
