--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: However, I learned something. I thought…" description: "\"However, I learned something. I thought that if the young person, the student, has poetry in him or her, to offer them help is like offering a propelle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/norman-maccaig-15658_bird_however-i-learned-something-i-thought-th_2929344.png" --- # However, I learned something. I thought that if the young… ![“However, I learned something. I thought that if the young person, the student, has poetry in him or her, to offer them help is like offering a propeller to a bird.” quote by Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/norman-maccaig-15658_bird_however-i-learned-something-i-thought-th_2929344.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/norman-maccaig-15658_bird_however-i-learned-something-i-thought-th_2929344.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/norman-maccaig-15658_bird_however-i-learned-something-i-thought-th_2929344.png) > “However, I learned something. I thought that if the young person, the student, has poetry in him or her, to offer them help is like offering a propeller to a bird.” [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker warns that giving a talented student help can hinder their natural growth, like a bird with a propeller. **In simple terms:** Over‑helping can stunt natural talent. Key Takeaway Allow talent to develop independently. Themes education talent autonomy Mood cautious thoughtful Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - teaching - mentoring - creative arts - personal development Key Concepts developmental psychology pedagogy Questions to Reflect On - When is assistance beneficial versus limiting? - How do you balance support and independence? A Different Perspective It may underestimate the value of guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student/) ## Related quotes > [I realize everything's on me as far as what kind of player, person, and student I'm going to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-rose/i-realize-everything-s-on-me-as-far-as-what-kind-of-player-person-and/) [Jalen Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-rose/) > [When you're a student of poetry, you're lucky if you don't realize how untalented you are until you get a little better. Otherwise, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-re-a-student-of-poetry-you-re-lucky-if-you-don-t-realize-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The person, the student, the athlete, all are considered equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/the-person-the-student-the-athlete-all-are-considered-equal/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [I should have learned this, she thought. I wanted to learn fire, and pain, but I should have learned people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-should-have-learned-this-she-thought-i-wanted-to-learn-fire-and/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“I soon learned that thought was not free in North Korea. A free thought could get you killed if it slipped out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaji-ishikawa/i-soon-learned-that-thought-was-not-free-in-north-korea-a-free-2/) [Masaji Ishikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaji-ishikawa/) > [The one thing I've learned to do that I never thought I had the ability to do is I don't watch CNN anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-one-thing-i-ve-learned-to-do-that-i-never-thought-i-had-the/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“I soon learned that thought was not free in North Korea. A free thought could get you killed if it slipped out. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaji-ishikawa/i-soon-learned-that-thought-was-not-free-in-north-korea-a-free/) [Masaji Ishikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaji-ishikawa/) > [I was a terrible student. I didn't graduate magna cum laude: I graduated 'Thank you, Lawdy!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/i-was-a-terrible-student-i-didn-t-graduate-magna-cum-laude-i/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [I been partyn alot.. Oh freakin well! Im single and a college student so Im living my life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-been-partyn-alot-oh-freakin-well-im-single-and-a-college-student-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Finding out your crush isn't at school today and feeling like you wasted a perfectly good outfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/finding-out-your-crush-isn-t-at-school-today-and-feeling-like-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You're a constant student, as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/you-re-a-constant-student-as-a-musician/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [“Taking a final pleasure in what the wind can neither proclaim nor destroy, I am a student of nightfall, I claim no other profession.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/taking-a-final-pleasure-in-what-the-wind-can-neither-proclaim-nor/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“When I was alive, I aimed to be a student not of longing but of light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-nelson/when-i-was-alive-i-aimed-to-be-a-student-not-of-longing-but-of-light/) [Maggie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-nelson/) ## More by Norman MacCaig > [“The day Was like the buzzard on the pine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/the-day-was-like-the-buzzard-on-the-pine/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [In fact a lot of them I think are absolute baloney. Those Charles Olsens and people like that. At first I was interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/in-fact-a-lot-of-them-i-think-are-absolute-baloney-those-charles/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [If I wrote a play with four characters every single one of them would talk like me regardless of age or sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/if-i-wrote-a-play-with-four-characters-every-single-one-of-them-would/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I don't think of myself all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/i-don-t-think-of-myself-all-the-time/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [And it's impossible for me to read Henry James.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/and-it-s-impossible-for-me-to-read-henry-james/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [And the second question, can poetry be taught? 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I even think they're very nice decor in a room - far better than paintings...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/but-i-hang-on-to-books-i-love-them-i-even-think-they-re-very-nice/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I find it's impossible for me to read Proust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/i-find-it-s-impossible-for-me-to-read-proust/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I was very interested in American poetry for many years. Much less now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/i-was-very-interested-in-american-poetry-for-many-years-much-less-now/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [A terrible thing about getting oldish is that your friends start dying, and in the last ten years I have lost seven or eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/a-terrible-thing-about-getting-oldish-is-that-your-friends-start/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I learned words, I learned words; but half of them died from lack of exercise. And the ones I use often look at me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/i-learned-words-i-learned-words-but-half-of-them-died-from-lack-of/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [Well, I love fishing. I wouldn't kill a fly myself but I've no hesitation in killing a fish. A lot of men are like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/well-i-love-fishing-i-wouldn-t-kill-a-fly-myself-but-i-ve-no/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) [Explore all 42 Norman MacCaig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) ## More Bird quotes > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. 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If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. 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