--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never got along in school, really - I…" description: "\"I never got along in school, really - I already knew what I wanted to do. I have never in my life got a paycheck from anywhere in the world that asked ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/john-waters-751_ifs_i-never-got-along-in-school-really-i-alr_485069.jpg" --- # I never got along in school, really - I already knew what… ![“I never got along in school, really - I already knew what I wanted to do. I have never in my life got a paycheck from anywhere in the world that asked if I went to school.” quote by John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/john-waters-751_ifs_i-never-got-along-in-school-really-i-alr_485069.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/john-waters-751_ifs_i-never-got-along-in-school-really-i-alr_485069.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/john-waters-751_ifs_i-never-got-along-in-school-really-i-alr_485069.jpg) > “I never got along in school, really - I already knew what I wanted to do. I have never in my life got a paycheck from anywhere in the world that asked if I went to school.” [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He succeeded without formal schooling, emphasizing personal vision over institutional credentials. **In simple terms:** Success without school. Key Takeaway Pursue your passion regardless of formal education. Themes education career individualism Mood reflective motivational Type inspirational pragmatic When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - creative arts - self‑employment Key Concepts self‑direction non‑conformity Questions to Reflect On - What skills matter most beyond school? - How can society value non‑traditional paths? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Paychecks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paychecks/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I got my first paycheck as a cast member in the Broadway production of 'HAIR' when I was 16 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-sue-robinson/i-got-my-first-paycheck-as-a-cast-member-in-the-broadway-production/) Vicki Sue Robinson > [As a prosecutor, I got a paycheck for coming to work every day. I didn't get a promotion when I won, and I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-grace/as-a-prosecutor-i-got-a-paycheck-for-coming-to-work-every-day-i-didn/) [Nancy Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-grace/) > [When I went to school, it was really just to immerse myself in listening to, studying, and making music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/when-i-went-to-school-it-was-really-just-to-immerse-myself-in/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [“I said, ‘Never. Because I don’t consider my work a job. I consider it a career. And you don’t quit a career.’ That shut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-said-never-because-i-don-t-consider-my-work-a-job-i-consider-it-a/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“Hello?” he asked as he went ... just so that anyone intent on killing him would know exactly where to look.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/hello-he-asked-as-he-went-just-so-that-anyone-intent-on-killing-him/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Somebody once asked me if I ever went up to the plate trying to hit a home run. I said, 'Sure, every time.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-mantle/somebody-once-asked-me-if-i-ever-went-up-to-the-plate-trying-to-hit-a/) [Mickey Mantle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-mantle/) > [A really happy kid. I would go off on my own a lot and live in my imagination. When I got my school report…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-stansfield/a-really-happy-kid-i-would-go-off-on-my-own-a-lot-and-live-in-my/) [Lisa Stansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-stansfield/) > [I got my business, and I got my school. I separate the two, so if I know I gotta go out of town one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bow-wow/i-got-my-business-and-i-got-my-school-i-separate-the-two-so-if-i-know/) [Bow Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bow-wow/) > [It was a good thing that she got herself into this other school. It showed her that there were other worlds beside the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/it-was-a-good-thing-that-she-got-herself-into-this-other-school-it/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [I barely got out of school, I got out of school, mainly, because I was a champ, and I actually didn't pass. I won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-barely-got-out-of-school-i-got-out-of-school-mainly-because-i-was-a/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I just barely got through school. The problem was a learning disability, at a time when there was no where to get help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-jenner/i-just-barely-got-through-school-the-problem-was-a-learning/) [Bruce Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-jenner/) > [My mother had lived in London since I was little, so she never got to see my school plays and stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/my-mother-had-lived-in-london-since-i-was-little-so-she-never-got-to/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [I was hungry a coupla' times but for the most part I ate every day... I got to go to school for free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coolio/i-was-hungry-a-coupla-times-but-for-the-most-part-i-ate-every-day-i/) [Coolio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coolio/) > [I got out of school in 2000, and I always wanted to be on 'This American Life,' since I first started telling stories. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/i-got-out-of-school-in-2000-and-i-always-wanted-to-be-on-this/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [Just got back to school from court and it killed me!!! I hate court so much, but today went better then usually, I'm leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hawes/just-got-back-to-school-from-court-and-it-killed-me-i-hate-court-so/) [Jon Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hawes/) ## More by John Waters > [There was a cultural war going on, the '60s was going on. All the film critics were square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/there-was-a-cultural-war-going-on-the-60s-was-going-on-all-the-film/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm here today because of LSD. LSD gave me the confidence to be who I am today. Completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-here-today-because-of-lsd-lsd-gave-me-the-confidence-to-be-who-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [When I was young, there were bars called the 'Hungry Hole,' and in those same neighbourhoods are now gay people pushing baby carriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-was-young-there-were-bars-called-the-hungry-hole-and-in-those/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [True success is figuring out your life and career so you never have to be around jerks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/true-success-is-figuring-out-your-life-and-career-so-you-never-have/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Around '62 in Baltimore, all the girls had those big hairdos. And then suddenly, a few of the really hip ones started doing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/around-62-in-baltimore-all-the-girls-had-those-big-hairdos-and-then/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“John!?” I ask in shock. This woman recognizes me? It can’t be! “How do you know my name?” I wonder out loud. Suddenly she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/john-i-ask-in-shock-this-woman-recognizes-me-it-can-t-be-how-do-you/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > ['Serial Mom' tested really well when we finally got with the right audience. But they would go to some shopping mall in a deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/serial-mom-tested-really-well-when-we-finally-got-with-the-right/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [One Christmas, Dennis Dermody, the movie critic of 'Paper,' gave me 'Rock Hudson: A Gathering of Friends,' the master invitation list from Rock Hudson's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/one-christmas-dennis-dermody-the-movie-critic-of-paper-gave-me-rock/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Many hundred-million-dollar Hollywood comedies aren't any good. They're trying to shock you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/many-hundred-million-dollar-hollywood-comedies-aren-t-any-good-they/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [The Easter Bunny is a major reason for heroin addiction in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/the-easter-bunny-is-a-major-reason-for-heroin-addiction-in-america/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [To use bad taste, you have to know the rules of good taste. I've always thanked my mother for that. She taught how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/to-use-bad-taste-you-have-to-know-the-rules-of-good-taste-i-ve-always/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm an old person because I still buy DVDs. I have every one of my albums and 45s - I even have a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-an-old-person-because-i-still-buy-dvds-i-have-every-one-of-my/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I do like Christmas. I do understand that there are people who hate it, and there are other religions that resent it. So, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-do-like-christmas-i-do-understand-that-there-are-people-who-hate-it/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I love to read about anger. A "feel bad" book always makes me feel good. And no other novel in the history of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-love-to-read-about-anger-a-feel-bad-book-always-makes-me-feel-good/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [ Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another movie, but I don't want to go back and \[do\] what they want you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/maybe-i-ll-just-write-books-i-d-like-to-make-another-movie-but-i-don/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) [Explore all 381 John Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## More Ifs quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [If I don't have pressure, I don't function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/if-i-don-t-have-pressure-i-don-t-function/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) Browse all 94,303 Ifs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never got along in school, really - I already knew what I wanted to do. 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