--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing I ever learned was that…" description: "\"The only thing I ever learned was that some people are lucky and other people aren't and not even a graduate of the Harvard Business School can say why..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/kurt-vonnegut-41_business-school_the-only-thing-i-ever-learned-was-that-s_2128459.jpg" --- # The only thing I ever learned was that some people are… ![“The only thing I ever learned was that some people are lucky and other people aren't and not even a graduate of the Harvard Business School can say why.” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/kurt-vonnegut-41_business-school_the-only-thing-i-ever-learned-was-that-s_2128459.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/kurt-vonnegut-41_business-school_the-only-thing-i-ever-learned-was-that-s_2128459.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/kurt-vonnegut-41_business-school_the-only-thing-i-ever-learned-was-that-s_2128459.jpg) > “The only thing I ever learned was that some people are lucky and other people aren't and not even a graduate of the Harvard Business School can say why.” [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s outcomes often feel random; success isn’t guaranteed by education or effort, and luck plays a big role. **In simple terms:** Success can be random and not always tied to education. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and focus on effort. Themes luck inequality education career uncertainty Mood reflective philosophical Type advice contemplative When to use this quote - career planning - risk assessment - personal development - financial planning - networking Key Concepts randomness meritocracy social mobility Questions to Reflect On - What can you control in your career? - How do you handle perceived unfairness? A Different Perspective Even elite education can’t predict success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-school/) [Graduates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduates/) [Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard/) [Harvard Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard-business-281174/) [Learned People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-people/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Lucky people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-lucky-577788/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Thing Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-learned/) ## Related quotes > [“You might just learn something when you're in a mood to learn something. The only thing I ever learned was that some people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-might-just-learn-something-when-you-re-in-a-mood-to-learn/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I got more out of the farm than Harvard Business School.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-brenneman/i-got-more-out-of-the-farm-than-harvard-business-school/) [Greg Brenneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-brenneman/) > [When I came back to India after Harvard Business School, I started as a lawyer and as a trade union leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-chidambaram/when-i-came-back-to-india-after-harvard-business-school-i-started-as/) [P. Chidambaram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-chidambaram/) > [I've lectured at the Harvard Business School several times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-hefner/i-ve-lectured-at-the-harvard-business-school-several-times/) [Christie Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-hefner/) > [In 15 years from now half of US universities may be in bankruptcy ... in the end I'm excited to see that happen. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/in-15-years-from-now-half-of-us-universities-may-be-in-bankruptcy-in/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [The time I have already spent at Harvard has been a stimulating experience, and I look forward to developing my relationship and activities with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/the-time-i-have-already-spent-at-harvard-has-been-a-stimulating/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [My most difficult class at Harvard Business School would have to be finance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/my-most-difficult-class-at-harvard-business-school-would-have-to-be/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [At the Harvard Business School, I really felt I had gained the ability to resolve difficult issues. But I also felt that I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-g-stemberg/at-the-harvard-business-school-i-really-felt-i-had-gained-the-ability/) [Thomas G. Stemberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-g-stemberg/) > [There's a Harvard Business School thing that says, 'Every 10 years you should replant yourself,' and the only way to keep young is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-lansing/there-s-a-harvard-business-school-thing-that-says-every-10-years-you/) [Sherry Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-lansing/) > [I don't have an MBA from Harvard Business School. I learnt everything on the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sussanne-khan/i-don-t-have-an-mba-from-harvard-business-school-i-learnt-everything/) [Sussanne Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sussanne-khan/) > [From what I've seen, you either get grounded in that kind of positive thinking early on in life or you don't. Establishing priorities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/from-what-i-ve-seen-you-either-get-grounded-in-that-kind-of-positive/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [Let me tell you, very frankly, when I went to the Harvard Business School I was more or less a committed socialist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-chidambaram/let-me-tell-you-very-frankly-when-i-went-to-the-harvard-business/) [P. Chidambaram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-chidambaram/) > [ \[My father\] was a banker. He was the president of the Cambridge Trust Company, the head of the trust department, and he taught classes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/my-father-was-a-banker-he-was-the-president-of-the-cambridge-trust/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [I went to Harvard College and determined right away when I was a junior that I was unemployable, since I think I applied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-e-james/i-went-to-harvard-college-and-determined-right-away-when-i-was-a/) [Hamilton E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-e-james/) > [It horrifies me that ethics is only an optional extra at Harvard Business School.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harvey-jones/it-horrifies-me-that-ethics-is-only-an-optional-extra-at-harvard/) [John Harvey-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harvey-jones/) ## More by Kurt Vonnegut > [“You must bloom as a writer and I must bloom as a painter. Everything else about us is uninteresting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-must-bloom-as-a-writer-and-i-must-bloom-as-a-painter-everything/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“People aren't supposed to look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Have a good nap, did you?” said the porter. “Yes,” said Billy. “Man,” said the porter, “you sure had a hard-on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/have-a-good-nap-did-you-said-the-porter-yes-said-billy-man-said-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I told him that if we doubted that we are demons in Hell, he should read The Mysterious Stranger, which Mark Twain wrote in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-told-him-that-if-we-doubted-that-we-are-demons-in-hell-he-should/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “Thomas Jefferson High School \[..\] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-school-was-named-after-a-slave/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I had a certain amount of skill as a dramatist, and Dr. Goebbels wanted me to use it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-had-a-certain-amount-of-skill-as-a-dramatist-and-dr-goebbels-wanted/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The town was Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-town-was-newport-rhode-island-u-s-a-earth-solar-system-milky-way/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Her face was one of a kind, a surprising variation that made observers think, Yes--that would be another very nice way for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/her-face-was-one-of-a-kind-a-surprising-variation-that-made-observers/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“You finally fell in love, I see,” said Salo. “Only an Earthling year ago,” said Constant. “It took us that long to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-finally-fell-in-love-i-see-said-salo-only-an-earthling-year-ago/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Like all Earthlings at the point of death, Mary Young sent faint reminders of herself to those who had known her. She released a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/like-all-earthlings-at-the-point-of-death-mary-young-sent-faint/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“And contrast Mary Kathleen, if you will, with my wife Ruth, the Ophelia of the death camps, who believed that even the most intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-contrast-mary-kathleen-if-you-will-with-my-wife-ruth-the-ophelia/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. And if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/someday-someday-this-crazy-world-will-have-to-end-and-our-god-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“They were going back to the slaughterhouse for souvenirs of the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/they-were-going-back-to-the-slaughterhouse-for-souvenirs-of-the-war/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“There are plenty of good reasons for fighting," I said, "but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/there-are-plenty-of-good-reasons-for-fighting-i-said-but-no-good/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Explore all 2,089 Kurt Vonnegut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More Business school quotes > [Business school graduates from the best schools earn large salaries and frequently rise to positions of great power. 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They sent him to business school - he probably would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-balaban/my-dad-was-the-baby-when-he-was-born-they-were-already-successful/) [Bob Balaban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-balaban/) > [All the lessons I learned from my grandfather from the day I was born until the day he passed away served me well, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wasserman/all-the-lessons-i-learned-from-my-grandfather-from-the-day-i-was-born/) [Casey Wasserman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wasserman/) > [At the Harvard Business School, I really felt I had gained the ability to resolve difficult issues. But I also felt that I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-g-stemberg/at-the-harvard-business-school-i-really-felt-i-had-gained-the-ability/) [Thomas G. Stemberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-g-stemberg/) > [Business schools make a fortune forcing their students to take in a HUGE amount of information. The majority of it is theoretical. The majority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-kaufman/business-schools-make-a-fortune-forcing-their-students-to-take-in-a/) [Josh Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-kaufman/) > [Business schools reward complex behavior but it's the simple behavior that makes you successful in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/business-schools-reward-complex-behavior-but-it-s-the-simple-behavior/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I went to business school but left after four months because I just didn't want to be a puppet of society, stuck in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rodriguez/i-went-to-business-school-but-left-after-four-months-because-i-just/) [Michelle Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rodriguez/) > [It was the first fight I had with my father. My father basically said, why are you going to business school? You're just going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-taylor/it-was-the-first-fight-i-had-with-my-father-my-father-basically-said/) [Diana Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-taylor/) > [Don't go to business school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/don-t-go-to-business-school/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [Most of my writing friends are working in academia. Most of my business school friends are always talking about bringing companies public, and money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-chang/most-of-my-writing-friends-are-working-in-academia-most-of-my/) [Victoria Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-chang/) [Browse all 106 Business school quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-school/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thing I ever learned was that some people are lucky and other people aren't and not even a graduate of the Harvard Business School can say why.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kurt Vonnegut" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-only-thing-i-ever-learned-was-that-some-people-are-lucky-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business school" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-only-thing-i-ever-learned-was-that-some-people-are-lucky-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/kurt-vonnegut-41_business-school_the-only-thing-i-ever-learned-was-that-s_2128459.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/kurt-vonnegut-41_business-school_the-only-thing-i-ever-learned-was-that-s_2128459.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/kurt-vonnegut-41_business-school_the-only-thing-i-ever-learned-was-that-s_2128459.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only thing I ever learned was that some people are lucky and other people aren't and not even a graduate…” — Kurt Vonnegut", "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": "Kurt Vonnegut", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only thing I ever learned...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-only-thing-i-ever-learned-was-that-some-people-are-lucky-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-only-thing-i-ever-learned-was-that-some-people-are-lucky-and/#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 } } ] } ```