--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had learned years ago that despite what…" description: "\"“I had learned years ago that despite what so many adults always said, there really was such a thing as a stupid question. I had asked a number of them..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/obert-skye-11388_life_i-had-learned-years-ago-that-despite-wha_2336915.jpg" --- # I had learned years ago that despite what so many adults… ![“I had learned years ago that despite what so many adults always said, there really was such a thing as a stupid question. I had asked a number of them myself over the course of my life. But, I had also learned that life required asking stupid questions every now and then.” quote by Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/obert-skye-11388_life_i-had-learned-years-ago-that-despite-wha_2336915.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/obert-skye-11388_life_i-had-learned-years-ago-that-despite-wha_2336915.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/obert-skye-11388_life_i-had-learned-years-ago-that-despite-wha_2336915.jpg) > ““I had learned years ago that despite what so many adults always said, there really was such a thing as a stupid question. I had asked a number of them myself over the course of my life. But, I had also learned that life required asking stupid questions every now and then.”” [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He learned that asking seemingly foolish questions is essential for learning and personal growth, despite adult discouragement. **In simple terms:** Stupid questions lead to insight. Key Takeaway Ask curious questions regardless of judgment. Themes curiosity learning growth Mood inquisitive encouraging Type educational motivational When to use this quote - classroom - research - personal development Key Concepts questioning education self‑discovery Questions to Reflect On - What “stupid” question have you avoided? - How can you create safe spaces for inquiry? A Different Perspective Not all questions are welcomed in every setting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults-said-1462817/) [Asking Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-stupid-327616/) [Despite Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despite-adults-5642496/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-learned/) [Stupid question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-question/) [Stupid questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-questions/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [I do not believe that I have had an interview with anybody in twenty-five years in which the person to whom I was talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-stack-sullivan/i-do-not-believe-that-i-have-had-an-interview-with-anybody-in-twenty/) [Harry Stack Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-stack-sullivan/) > [Someone said to me, "Hey, what's it like kissing Marilyn Monroe?" I said, "It's like kissing Hitler. What are you doing asking me such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-curtis/someone-said-to-me-hey-what-s-it-like-kissing-marilyn-monroe-i-said/) [Tony Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-curtis/) > [I'm like anyone else - sometimes you hear yourself asking a stupid question before you can even stop yourself, especially when you meet someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mullin/i-m-like-anyone-else-sometimes-you-hear-yourself-asking-a-stupid/) [Paul Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mullin/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [“If Edgar sounded overeager, even rushed, the race was with his own temperament. He placed a premium on savvy. Yet since you could only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/if-edgar-sounded-overeager-even-rushed-the-race-was-with-his-own/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“Sarcasm is one of the many services I offer to people who ask stupid questions!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habeeb-akande/sarcasm-is-one-of-the-many-services-i-offer-to-people-who-ask-stupid/) [Habeeb Akande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habeeb-akande/) > [There are no stupid questions.. just stupid people :D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-no-stupid-questions-just-stupid-people-d/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Only stupid questions create wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/only-stupid-questions-create-wealth/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) > [“Stupid questions will never exist and won't ever exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/stupid-questions-will-never-exist-and-won-t-ever-exist/) [Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/) > [When I was going through my cancer treatment, I learned that you can never ask a stupid question. I asked every single question that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maura-tierney/when-i-was-going-through-my-cancer-treatment-i-learned-that-you-can/) [Maura Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maura-tierney/) > [Silence is the best answer of all stupid questions. Smile is the best reaction in all critical situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/silence-is-the-best-answer-of-all-stupid-questions-smile-is-the-best/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's the stupid questions that have some of the most surprising and interesting answers. Most people never think to ask the stupid questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/it-s-the-stupid-questions-that-have-some-of-the-most-surprising-and/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [Actresses get stupid questions asked of them all the time, like, ‘How do you stay sexy?’ or ‘What’s your sexiest quality?’ All these ridiculous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-johansson/actresses-get-stupid-questions-asked-of-them-all-the-time-like-how-do/) [Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-johansson/) > [What if it lines up like it did in the Trojan War ... Athena versus Poseidon?" "I don't know. But I just know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/what-if-it-lines-up-like-it-did-in-the-trojan-war-athena-versus/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“In case you hadn’t noticed, there isn’t any heat in this place.” Nolan set the baseball bat aside and moved to the far wall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-macomber/in-case-you-hadn-t-noticed-there-isn-t-any-heat-in-this-place-nolan/) [Debbie Macomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-macomber/) ## More by Obert Skye > [“You get some rest. We'll talk later." "I'd rather not," I said nicely. "Rest is important," he insisted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/you-get-some-rest-we-ll-talk-later-i-d-rather-not-i-said-nicely-rest/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [What was that you gave me to eat?" Winter panicked. A Filler Crisp," Clover said, his eyes seventy percent concerned and thirty percent mischievous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/what-was-that-you-gave-me-to-eat-winter-panicked-a-filler-crisp/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [There is no dignity in a crying toothpick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/there-is-no-dignity-in-a-crying-toothpick/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [I'm man enough to know when to scream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/i-m-man-enough-to-know-when-to-scream/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [“Where did you get that candy again?" Leven asked, worried. "The pile said 'flavored'," Clover answered back, his face a chocolatey mess. "Flavored?" Leven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/where-did-you-get-that-candy-again-leven-asked-worried-the-pile-said/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [Cats learned how to fly that evening,...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/cats-learned-how-to-fly-that-evening/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [You seem to be attracted to trouble," he said. "Yeah, she's real pretty," I replied. "Your tongue is sharper than mine ever was." I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/you-seem-to-be-attracted-to-trouble-he-said-yeah-she-s-real-pretty-i/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [Winter looked at Leven. Leven looked right back at her. Winter's cheeks burned red and her green eyes outshone Leven's. The two of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/winter-looked-at-leven-leven-looked-right-back-at-her-winter-s-cheeks/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [Believe, it is our best defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/believe-it-is-our-best-defense/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [Stupid deer," I said, embarrassed about being startled. "We need a ladder." "I think they're easier to shoot with a rifle." "I'm not talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/stupid-deer-i-said-embarrassed-about-being-startled-we-need-a-ladder/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [“Enjoy Mr. Binkers," he added. "As soon as you leave I'm going to hug him," I said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/enjoy-mr-binkers-he-added-as-soon-as-you-leave-i-m-going-to-hug-him-i/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [Then, there are the places you would rather not go-a tax collectors' convention, a sewage treatment plant, or maybe the home of someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/then-there-are-the-places-you-would-rather-not-go-a-tax-collectors/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [Terry was beside himself. Not literally. This story would be that much more painful if there were two Terrys, able to stand next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/terry-was-beside-himself-not-literally-this-story-would-be-that-much/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [Mercury dropped the purple car and shot up into the air, whistling like a shooting star. The woman in the car next to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/mercury-dropped-the-purple-car-and-shot-up-into-the-air-whistling/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) > [Don't predict disappointment while hope is an option](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/don-t-predict-disappointment-while-hope-is-an-option/) [Obert Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) [Explore all 60 Obert Skye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) [Deanna L. Lawlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-l-lawlis/) > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I had learned years ago that despite what so many adults always said, there really was such a thing as a stupid question. I had asked a number of them myself over the course of my life. But, I had also learned that life required asking stupid questions every now and then.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Obert Skye" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/i-had-learned-years-ago-that-despite-what-so-many-adults-always-said/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/i-had-learned-years-ago-that-despite-what-so-many-adults-always-said/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/obert-skye-11388_life_i-had-learned-years-ago-that-despite-wha_2336915.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/obert-skye-11388_life_i-had-learned-years-ago-that-despite-wha_2336915.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/obert-skye-11388_life_i-had-learned-years-ago-that-despite-wha_2336915.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had learned years ago that despite what so many adults always said, there really was such a thing as a…” — Obert Skye", "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": "Obert Skye", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obert-skye/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I had learned years ago that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/i-had-learned-years-ago-that-despite-what-so-many-adults-always-said/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obert-skye/i-had-learned-years-ago-that-despite-what-so-many-adults-always-said/#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 } } ] } ```