--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was rather a poor student, too easily…" description: "\"I was rather a poor student, too easily distracted - did a lot of gazing out of windows, fine for training to be a writer, but not a great way to achie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/michael-morpurgo-3162_achieve_i-was-rather-a-poor-student-too-easily-d_1477907.png" --- # I was rather a poor student, too easily distracted - did a… ![“I was rather a poor student, too easily distracted - did a lot of gazing out of windows, fine for training to be a writer, but not a great way to achieve in the classroom. The truth is that I was happy to bumble along and do enough to avoid detention, but not much more.” quote by Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/michael-morpurgo-3162_achieve_i-was-rather-a-poor-student-too-easily-d_1477907.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/michael-morpurgo-3162_achieve_i-was-rather-a-poor-student-too-easily-d_1477907.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/michael-morpurgo-3162_achieve_i-was-rather-a-poor-student-too-easily-d_1477907.png) > “I was rather a poor student, too easily distracted - did a lot of gazing out of windows, fine for training to be a writer, but not a great way to achieve in the classroom. The truth is that I was happy to bumble along and do enough to avoid detention, but not much more.” [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A student admits to daydreaming and minimal effort, finding some value in observation but lacking academic focus. **In simple terms:** Daydreaming helped creativity but hurt grades. Key Takeaway Balance curiosity with responsibility. Themes education creativity discipline Mood reflective melancholic Type personal educational When to use this quote - writing practice - classroom engagement - self‑reflection - time management Key Concepts attention motivation learning styles Questions to Reflect On - How can you channel daydreaming into productive work? - What habits could improve focus without stifling imagination? A Different Perspective Creative insight can’t replace consistent study. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bumble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bumble/) [Classroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classroom/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“...there was no point in sighing after what I could not have. It only distracted me from what I did have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/there-was-no-point-in-sighing-after-what-i-could-not-have-it-only/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“Everything and everyone is your teacher unless you are a poor student.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/everything-and-everyone-is-your-teacher-unless-you-are-a-poor-student/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Albert is a very poor student. He is mentally slow, unsociable and is always daydreaming. He is spoiling it for the rest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/albert-is-a-very-poor-student-he-is-mentally-slow-unsociable-and-is/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [In high school, I was a poor student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/in-high-school-i-was-a-poor-student/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [One thing that improved my cooking skills was being a poor student in California... If you don't have much money, you have to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-mott-davidson/one-thing-that-improved-my-cooking-skills-was-being-a-poor-student-in/) [Diane Mott Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-mott-davidson/) > [I am a poor student sitting at the feet of giants, yearning for their wisdom and begging for lessons that might one day make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-taylor/i-am-a-poor-student-sitting-at-the-feet-of-giants-yearning-for-their/) [Rod Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-taylor/) > [Even the poor student studies and is taught only political economy, while that economy of living which is synonymous with philosophy is not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/even-the-poor-student-studies-and-is-taught-only-political-economy/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm easily distracted by other things in the world around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boz-scaggs/i-m-easily-distracted-by-other-things-in-the-world-around-me/) [Boz Scaggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boz-scaggs/) > [I'm very easily distracted unless I have music on. 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Read a lot and widely, learn from the great writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/live-an-interesting-life-meet-people-read-a-lot-and-widely-learn-from/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [I can hate you more, but I'll never love you less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/i-can-hate-you-more-but-i-ll-never-love-you-less/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [By the time I sit down and face the blank page I am raring to go. I tell it as if I'm talking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/by-the-time-i-sit-down-and-face-the-blank-page-i-am-raring-to-go-i/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [Encouraging young people to believe in themselves and find their own voice whether it's through writing, drama or art is so important in giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/encouraging-young-people-to-believe-in-themselves-and-find-their-own/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [With all editing, no matter how sensitive - and I've been very lucky here - I react sulkily at first, but then I settle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/with-all-editing-no-matter-how-sensitive-and-i-ve-been-very-lucky/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [A lot of children, like I did, move away from words because of the fear - which is something you have to take out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/a-lot-of-children-like-i-did-move-away-from-words-because-of-the-fear/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [Animals are sentient, intelligent, perceptive, funny and entertaining. We owe them a duty of care as we do to children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/animals-are-sentient-intelligent-perceptive-funny-and-entertaining-we/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [Blind terror drove me on, with my flying stirrups whipping me into a frenzy. 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