---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never went to class. That the…"
description: "\"I never went to class. That the university graduated me at all is an indictment of our educational system.\" — Kevin Kline"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/kevin-kline-16716_class_i-never-went-to-class-that-the-universit_2519316.jpg"
---

#  I never went to class. That the university graduated me at…

![“I never went to class. That the university graduated me at all is an indictment of our educational system.” quote by Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/kevin-kline-16716_class_i-never-went-to-class-that-the-universit_2519316.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/kevin-kline-16716_class_i-never-went-to-class-that-the-universit_2519316.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/kevin-kline-16716_class_i-never-went-to-class-that-the-universit_2519316.jpg)

> “I never went to class. That the university graduated me at all is an indictment of our educational system.”

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

## About This Quote

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

He critiques the education system, suggesting that a degree may not reflect true learning or competence.

**In simple terms:** Degrees don’t guarantee real knowledge.

Key Takeaway

Seek practical learning beyond formal credentials.

Themes

education critique systemic failure learning

Mood

skeptical reflective

Type

critical philosophical

When to use this quote

- job interviews
- career planning
- self‑assessment

Key Concepts

credentialism institutional critique self‑directed education

Questions to Reflect On

- What skills have you gained outside school?
- How can institutions better ensure genuine learning?

A Different Perspective

The statement may overlook the value of structured learning environments.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Educational system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational-system/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/)

## Related quotes

> [I went to Enloe High School and then East Carolina University and graduated with a business degree in marketing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-rae/i-went-to-enloe-high-school-and-then-east-carolina-university-and/)

[Summer Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-rae/)

> [Northwestern's alumni list is truly impressive. This university has graduated best-selling authors, Olympians, presidential candidates, Grammy winners, Peabody winners, Emmy winners, and that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/northwestern-s-alumni-list-is-truly-impressive-this-university-has/)

[Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/)

> [For my undergraduate work, I went to Oklahoma State University and graduated from there in 1977](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-hill/for-my-undergraduate-work-i-went-to-oklahoma-state-university-and/)

[Anita Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-hill/)

> [I went to college in Ohio, at Ohio University, and I graduated two years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-perabo/i-went-to-college-in-ohio-at-ohio-university-and-i-graduated-two/)

[Piper Perabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-perabo/)

> [To become a world-class university takes a lot of time. There are simply no shortcuts. People tend to assume, and I have encountered this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rosovsky/to-become-a-world-class-university-takes-a-lot-of-time-there-are/)

[Henry Rosovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rosovsky/)

> [It is fitting that the Government of the United States should assume the obligation of the establishment and maintenance of a first-class university for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/it-is-fitting-that-the-government-of-the-united-states-should-assume/)

[William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/)

> [If you can't create a world-class university, why not invite one in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/if-you-can-t-create-a-world-class-university-why-not-invite-one-in/)

[Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/)

> [My parents supported me through university, and after I graduated, I got a job as an analyst at a price comparison website called TotallyMoney.com.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-riley/my-parents-supported-me-through-university-and-after-i-graduated-i/)

[Rachel Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-riley/)

> [“I want to leave a legacy. I'll leave him in the trunk, tied up, at a parking garage on the campus of the university…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-want-to-leave-a-legacy-i-ll-leave-him-in-the-trunk-tied-up-at-a/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“If I skipped class, I would feel like I was wasting money. If I went to class, I would know I was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-mihajlich/if-i-skipped-class-i-would-feel-like-i-was-wasting-money-if-i-went-to/)

[Lucy Mihajlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-mihajlich/)

> [“Yes, I can.” I have the resources. I went to the class. I sat through the clinic. I read the book. I can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-john/yes-i-can-i-have-the-resources-i-went-to-the-class-i-sat-through-the/)

[Dan John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-john/)

> [I didn't say I was that smart, I said I went to class and I enjoyed what I was doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/i-didn-t-say-i-was-that-smart-i-said-i-went-to-class-and-i-enjoyed/)

[Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/)

> [I took ballet for two years in high school and then in college on and off, and I went back into class. I'm nowhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-vack/i-took-ballet-for-two-years-in-high-school-and-then-in-college-on-and/)

[Peter Vack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-vack/)

> [I dabbled a little bit in acting in high school, and then I forgot about it completely. And then at about 25 I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gandolfini/i-dabbled-a-little-bit-in-acting-in-high-school-and-then-i-forgot/)

[James Gandolfini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gandolfini/)

> [His night really went from first class to coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-disick/his-night-really-went-from-first-class-to-coach/)

[Scott Disick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-disick/)

## More by Kevin Kline

> [Playing Shakespeare requires technique. You don't play a Bach toccata by getting in the mood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/playing-shakespeare-requires-technique-you-don-t-play-a-bach-toccata/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [People ask, 'What's the best role you've ever played?' The next one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/people-ask-what-s-the-best-role-you-ve-ever-played-the-next-one/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [I like variety, which is frustrating. But I've always been picky. I was afraid Pirates would be too much like Twentieth Century, broad comedy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/i-like-variety-which-is-frustrating-but-i-ve-always-been-picky-i-was/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [I can play characters who sing, but I don't like singing in a nightclub or something. It's not my metier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/i-can-play-characters-who-sing-but-i-don-t-like-singing-in-a/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [I vowed I would never do a commercial, or a soap opera - both of which I did as soon as I left the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/i-vowed-i-would-never-do-a-commercial-or-a-soap-opera-both-of-which-i/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [But you have to trust your instincts. Because you're not going to try it 20 different ways during rehearsal. You'll try it two or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/but-you-have-to-trust-your-instincts-because-you-re-not-going-to-try/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [I've never felt completely satisfied with what I've done. I tend to see things too critically. I'm trying to get over that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/i-ve-never-felt-completely-satisfied-with-what-i-ve-done-i-tend-to/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [Hindsight. It's like foresight without a future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/hindsight-it-s-like-foresight-without-a-future/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [I totally related to Cole Porter's magnetic pull to any piano that was in the room, which he was famous for doing, as was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/i-totally-related-to-cole-porter-s-magnetic-pull-to-any-piano-that/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [I just don't think I'm a very good singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/i-just-don-t-think-i-m-a-very-good-singer/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [Some of my favorite characters that I've played have been very pompous because I love making fun of pompous people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/some-of-my-favorite-characters-that-i-ve-played-have-been-very/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [You know, actors are fans, too. And talent is very attractive to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/you-know-actors-are-fans-too-and-talent-is-very-attractive-to-me/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [I'm a real pushover for animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/i-m-a-real-pushover-for-animals/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [Well, the whole trick to doing an independent film, is to keep great pace and momentum. You're shooting maybe three times as many scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/well-the-whole-trick-to-doing-an-independent-film-is-to-keep-great/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

> [Nothing makes an actor feel freer and more inventive and more creative than being trusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/nothing-makes-an-actor-feel-freer-and-more-inventive-and-more/)

[Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

[Explore all 39 Kevin Kline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/)

## More Class quotes

> [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/)

> [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/)

[David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/)

> [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/)

[Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/)

> [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/)

[Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/)

> [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/)

[H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/)

> [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/)

[Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/)

> [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/)

[Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/)

> [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/)

[Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/)

> [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/)

[Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/)

> [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/)

[Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/)

[Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I never went to class. That the university graduated me at all is an indictment of our educational system.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kevin Kline"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/i-never-went-to-class-that-the-university-graduated-me-at-all-is-an/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Class"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/i-never-went-to-class-that-the-university-graduated-me-at-all-is-an/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/kevin-kline-16716_class_i-never-went-to-class-that-the-universit_2519316.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/kevin-kline-16716_class_i-never-went-to-class-that-the-universit_2519316.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/kevin-kline-16716_class_i-never-went-to-class-that-the-universit_2519316.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I never went to class. That the university graduated me at all is an indictment of our educational system.” — Kevin Kline",
                "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": "Kevin Kline",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I never went to class. That...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/i-never-went-to-class-that-the-university-graduated-me-at-all-is-an/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/i-never-went-to-class-that-the-university-graduated-me-at-all-is-an/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
