--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not a philosopher. I don't pretend to…" description: "\"I'm not a philosopher. I don't pretend to be a philosopher. I'm not a student of philosophy.\" — Laurence Fishburne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/laurence-fishburne-3533_philosophy_i-m-not-a-philosopher-i-don-t-pretend-to_1645500.jpg" --- # I'm not a philosopher. I don't pretend to be a… ![“I'm not a philosopher. I don't pretend to be a philosopher. I'm not a student of philosophy.” quote by Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/laurence-fishburne-3533_philosophy_i-m-not-a-philosopher-i-don-t-pretend-to_1645500.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/laurence-fishburne-3533_philosophy_i-m-not-a-philosopher-i-don-t-pretend-to_1645500.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/laurence-fishburne-3533_philosophy_i-m-not-a-philosopher-i-don-t-pretend-to_1645500.jpg) > “I'm not a philosopher. I don't pretend to be a philosopher. I'm not a student of philosophy.” [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges his lack of formal philosophical training and avoids pretension. **In simple terms:** Not a philosopher, no pretension. Key Takeaway Be honest about expertise. Themes humility self-awareness authenticity communication Mood introspective thoughtful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - career discussions - media interviews - teaching - mentoring Key Concepts personal identity public persona Questions to Reflect On - When is humility more valuable than expertise? - How does authenticity affect audience trust? A Different Perspective May limit credibility in philosophical debates. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosopher Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher-student-605504/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Pretend Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretend-philosopher-605503/) [Student Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student-philosophy-605505/) ## Related quotes > [As every student in Philosophy 101 learns, nothing can force me to believe that anyone except me is conscious. This power to deny that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/as-every-student-in-philosophy-101-learns-nothing-can-force-me-to/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [I would not say that I was, these days, a 'student' of philosophy, although in my youth I was quite deeply involved with certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/i-would-not-say-that-i-was-these-days-a-student-of-philosophy/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [The proof that a philosopher does not know what he is talking about is apt to sadden his followers before it reacts on himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-know-what-he-is-talking-about/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [I think that for thousands of years people have made the observation that there are certain kinds of extreme depressive states that seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/i-think-that-for-thousands-of-years-people-have-made-the-observation/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [“I am neither a philosopher nor a thinker, but simply follower of my own thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/i-am-neither-a-philosopher-nor-a-thinker-but-simply-follower-of-my/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/by-all-means-marry-if-you-get-a-good-wife-you-ll-be-happy-if-you-get/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [As our domestic fowls are said to have their original in the wild pheasant of India, so our domestic thoughts have their prototypes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-our-domestic-fowls-are-said-to-have-their-original-in-the-wild/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [And that, in a way, was the burden of being a philosopher: one knew what one had to do, but it was so often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-that-in-a-way-was-the-burden-of-being-a-philosopher-one-knew-what/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Mr. Pickwick was a philosopher, but philosophers are only men in armour, after all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mr-pickwick-was-a-philosopher-but-philosophers-are-only-men-in-armour/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [To become a philosopher, start by walking very slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/to-become-a-philosopher-start-by-walking-very-slowly/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [“Since Pawlow and his pupils have succeeded in causing the secretion of saliva in the dog by means of optic and acoustic signals, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-loeb/since-pawlow-and-his-pupils-have-succeeded-in-causing-the-secretion/) [Jacques Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-loeb/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) ## More by Laurence Fishburne > [There's a lot of stuff that's not good that's touted as being good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/there-s-a-lot-of-stuff-that-s-not-good-that-s-touted-as-being-good/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [I've been around long enough now and have learned to be flexible enough to know that every movie isn't going to be Apocalypse Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/i-ve-been-around-long-enough-now-and-have-learned-to-be-flexible/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [It's funny, a lot of people think I take myself seriously because I come off so serious sometimes. But it's not that I take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/it-s-funny-a-lot-of-people-think-i-take-myself-seriously-because-i/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [Some characters need to be more performance-orientated; some, you have to be still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/some-characters-need-to-be-more-performance-orientated-some-you-have/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [After 'Othello,' it was, like, 'I can stop acting. I have played one of the great characters in the English language. I feel I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/after-othello-it-was-like-i-can-stop-acting-i-have-played-one-of-the/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [I've been a fan of Mads since the “Casino Royale” movie. I really sat up and paid attention to him. I was like, “Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/i-ve-been-a-fan-of-mads-since-the-casino-royale-movie-i-really-sat-up/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [Blacks have been in the position of having to rebel since day one. It's only natural. Black people are the lowest on the totem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/blacks-have-been-in-the-position-of-having-to-rebel-since-day-one-it/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [As a man of colour, I've spent my life asking people to see me for who I am. With Obama in the White House,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/as-a-man-of-colour-i-ve-spent-my-life-asking-people-to-see-me-for-who/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [It's nice to get the feedback from a theater audience. It's a gas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/it-s-nice-to-get-the-feedback-from-a-theater-audience-it-s-a-gas/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [Projects don't need to be special for me to sign up, but I do need them to have something that speaks to me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/projects-don-t-need-to-be-special-for-me-to-sign-up-but-i-do-need/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [I certainly believe that being in contact with one's spirit and nurturing one's spirit is as important as nurturing one's body and mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/i-certainly-believe-that-being-in-contact-with-one-s-spirit-and/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [As a movie star, you get good tables at restaurants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/as-a-movie-star-you-get-good-tables-at-restaurants/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [As an actor, Coppola trained me. That was my training ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/as-an-actor-coppola-trained-me-that-was-my-training-ground/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [Doing theater makes you feel like a real actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/doing-theater-makes-you-feel-like-a-real-actor/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [The 50s are the age of elegance. That's kind of my intention when I get dressed: casual elegance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/the-50s-are-the-age-of-elegance-that-s-kind-of-my-intention-when-i/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) [Explore all 128 Laurence Fishburne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) ## More Philosopher quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Since Pawlow and his pupils have succeeded in causing the secretion of saliva in the dog by means of optic and acoustic signals, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-loeb/since-pawlow-and-his-pupils-have-succeeded-in-causing-the-secretion/) [Jacques Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-loeb/) > [To become a philosopher, start by walking very slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/to-become-a-philosopher-start-by-walking-very-slowly/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“Mr. Pickwick was a philosopher, but philosophers are only men in armour, after all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mr-pickwick-was-a-philosopher-but-philosophers-are-only-men-in-armour/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [And that, in a way, was the burden of being a philosopher: one knew what one had to do, but it was so often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-that-in-a-way-was-the-burden-of-being-a-philosopher-one-knew-what/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [As our domestic fowls are said to have their original in the wild pheasant of India, so our domestic thoughts have their prototypes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-our-domestic-fowls-are-said-to-have-their-original-in-the-wild/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/by-all-means-marry-if-you-get-a-good-wife-you-ll-be-happy-if-you-get/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“I am neither a philosopher nor a thinker, but simply follower of my own thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/i-am-neither-a-philosopher-nor-a-thinker-but-simply-follower-of-my/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [I think that for thousands of years people have made the observation that there are certain kinds of extreme depressive states that seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/i-think-that-for-thousands-of-years-people-have-made-the-observation/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [The proof that a philosopher does not know what he is talking about is apt to sadden his followers before it reacts on himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-know-what-he-is-talking-about/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The idea that God resides in the unknown is what philosophers call the God of the gaps. And we have this thing called science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-idea-that-god-resides-in-the-unknown-is-what-philosophers-call/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) [Browse all 2,194 Philosopher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not a philosopher. I don't pretend to be a philosopher. 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