--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was just an ordinary student. I'd…" description: "\"I was just an ordinary student. I'd always gotten along with authorities quite well.\" — Oliver Tambo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/oliver-tambo-11472_always_i-was-just-an-ordinary-student-i-d-alway_1452209.jpg" --- # I was just an ordinary student. I'd always gotten along… ![“I was just an ordinary student. I'd always gotten along with authorities quite well.” quote by Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/oliver-tambo-11472_always_i-was-just-an-ordinary-student-i-d-alway_1452209.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/oliver-tambo-11472_always_i-was-just-an-ordinary-student-i-d-alway_1452209.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/oliver-tambo-11472_always_i-was-just-an-ordinary-student-i-d-alway_1452209.jpg) > “I was just an ordinary student. I'd always gotten along with authorities quite well.” [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even ordinary students can maintain good relations with authority while pursuing change. **In simple terms:** Ordinary people can work well with power. Key Takeaway Build bridges with authority to effect change. Themes leadership authority student activism collaboration Mood hopeful pragmatic Type political educational When to use this quote - university campuses - political movements - community projects - policy advocacy Key Concepts social dynamics power structures nonviolent resistance Questions to Reflect On - How can students balance compliance and protest? - What strategies foster constructive dialogue? A Different Perspective May underplay systemic barriers faced by dissenters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Authorities Quite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authorities-quite-5225616/) [Gotten Authorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gotten-authorities-5225618/) [Just Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-ordinary-329306/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Ordinary Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-student-3150998/) [Quite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quite/) [Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student/) [Student Gotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student-gotten-5225617/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) ## Related quotes > [I was an ordinary student at school and, at the same time, an actor. But I was not the popular kid, which helped me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holland/i-was-an-ordinary-student-at-school-and-at-the-same-time-an-actor-but/) [Tom Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holland/) > [I just want to go to university and have fun - I want to be an ordinary student. I'm only going to university. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-william/i-just-want-to-go-to-university-and-have-fun-i-want-to-be-an-ordinary/) [Prince William](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-william/) > [“I'm just an ordinary girl. An ordinary girl serving and extraordinary God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-j-davis/i-m-just-an-ordinary-girl-an-ordinary-girl-serving-and-extraordinary/) [Katie J. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-j-davis/) > [I am just an ordinary Catholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-gallagher/i-am-just-an-ordinary-catholic/) [Maggie Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-gallagher/) > [“Just an ordinary in a world that loves the extra ordinary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/just-an-ordinary-in-a-world-that-loves-the-extra-ordinary/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [There was nothing particularly wrong with them; they were just the ordinary garden variety of human garbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/there-was-nothing-particularly-wrong-with-them-they-were-just-the/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) > [I'm just an ordinary judge from California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wapner/i-m-just-an-ordinary-judge-from-california/) [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) > [Just an ordinary day... started out the same old way, but then I looked into your eyes and knew today would be a first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-an-ordinary-day-started-out-the-same-old-way-but-then-i-looked/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am just your ordinary, average every day sane psycho, supergoddess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-phair/i-am-just-your-ordinary-average-every-day-sane-psycho-supergoddess/) [Liz Phair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-phair/) > [I'm really just an ordinary person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-min-ho/i-m-really-just-an-ordinary-person/) [Lee Min-ho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-min-ho/) > [“To have my life accepted as just another ordinary life, to have it viewed as common and regular, was a singular moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-a-briccetti/to-have-my-life-accepted-as-just-another-ordinary-life-to-have-it/) [Katherine A. Briccetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-a-briccetti/) > [I'm just an ordinary person who has an extraordinary job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-m-just-an-ordinary-person-who-has-an-extraordinary-job/) [Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/) > [I myself am just an ordinary woman. I simply had no choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miep-gies/i-myself-am-just-an-ordinary-woman-i-simply-had-no-choice/) [Miep Gies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miep-gies/) > [I'm just an ordinary man. I get tired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakii-retondo/i-m-just-an-ordinary-man-i-get-tired/) [Rakii Retondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakii-retondo/) > [“I'm just an ordinary woman who has somehow managed to do some extraordinary things!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-roberts/i-m-just-an-ordinary-woman-who-has-somehow-managed-to-do-some/) [Fiona Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-roberts/) ## More by Oliver Tambo > [If apartheid is removed, then the violence that is necessary to maintain it will be removed along with the pressures from apartheid which create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/if-apartheid-is-removed-then-the-violence-that-is-necessary-to/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [We have a vision of South Africa in which black and white shall live and work together as equals in conditions of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/we-have-a-vision-of-south-africa-in-which-black-and-white-shall-live/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [Mandela drafted the M Plan, a simple, commonsense plan for organization on a street basis so that Congress volunteers would be in daily touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/mandela-drafted-the-m-plan-a-simple-commonsense-plan-for-organization/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [The violence associated with the A.N.C. is minimal, infinitesimal next to the violence of the apartheid regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/the-violence-associated-with-the-a-n-c-is-minimal-infinitesimal-next/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [How can it be said we should use only constitutional means in our struggle, when all resistance is illegal and we have no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/how-can-it-be-said-we-should-use-only-constitutional-means-in-our/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [I am convinced that the world-wide protests during the Rivonia trial saved Mandela and his fellow-accused from a death sentence. But in South Africa,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/i-am-convinced-that-the-world-wide-protests-during-the-rivonia-trial/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [The sanctions will not kill us. It's apartheid that's killing us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/the-sanctions-will-not-kill-us-it-s-apartheid-that-s-killing-us/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [Whites, like ourselves, belong to our country. They are compatriots, fellow citizens... we see them as Africans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/whites-like-ourselves-belong-to-our-country-they-are-compatriots/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [The popularity of leaders like Mandela was an invitation to counter-attack by the government. Mandela was banned from speaking, from attending gatherings, from leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/the-popularity-of-leaders-like-mandela-was-an-invitation-to-counter/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [Using the power you derive from the discovery of the truth about racism in South Africa, you will help us to remake our part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/using-the-power-you-derive-from-the-discovery-of-the-truth-about/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [My sister had some ailment and convulsions that she suffered from, and she had been sent to some place to go and get healed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/my-sister-had-some-ailment-and-convulsions-that-she-suffered-from-and/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [We seek to create a united Democratic and non-racial society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/we-seek-to-create-a-united-democratic-and-non-racial-society/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [The U.S. is the last country that should see itself as an ally of the apartheid system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/the-u-s-is-the-last-country-that-should-see-itself-as-an-ally-of-the/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [You were not wanted. You were, at best, tolerated. You had to be constantly on your guard, like an animal in a jungle full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/you-were-not-wanted-you-were-at-best-tolerated-you-had-to-be/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [For decades, we resisted violence - until Sharpeville.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/for-decades-we-resisted-violence-until-sharpeville/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) [Explore all 59 Oliver Tambo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was just an ordinary student. I'd always gotten along with authorities quite well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oliver Tambo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/i-was-just-an-ordinary-student-i-d-always-gotten-along-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/i-was-just-an-ordinary-student-i-d-always-gotten-along-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/oliver-tambo-11472_always_i-was-just-an-ordinary-student-i-d-alway_1452209.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/oliver-tambo-11472_always_i-was-just-an-ordinary-student-i-d-alway_1452209.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/oliver-tambo-11472_always_i-was-just-an-ordinary-student-i-d-alway_1452209.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was just an ordinary student. I'd always gotten along with authorities quite well.” — Oliver Tambo", "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": "Oliver Tambo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was just an ordinary student....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/i-was-just-an-ordinary-student-i-d-always-gotten-along-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/i-was-just-an-ordinary-student-i-d-always-gotten-along-with/#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 } } ] } ```