--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’d compare college tuition to paying for…" description: "\"I’d compare college tuition to paying for a personal trainer at an athletic club. We professors play the roles of trainers, giving people access to the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ac/randy-pausch-842_athletic_i-d-compare-college-tuition-to-paying-fo_633129.png" --- # I’d compare college tuition to paying for a personal… ![“I’d compare college tuition to paying for a personal trainer at an athletic club. We professors play the roles of trainers, giving people access to the equipment (books, labs, our expertise) and after that, it is our job to be demanding.” quote by Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ac/randy-pausch-842_athletic_i-d-compare-college-tuition-to-paying-fo_633129.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ac/randy-pausch-842_athletic_i-d-compare-college-tuition-to-paying-fo_633129.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ac/randy-pausch-842_athletic_i-d-compare-college-tuition-to-paying-fo_633129.png) > “I’d compare college tuition to paying for a personal trainer at an athletic club. We professors play the roles of trainers, giving people access to the equipment (books, labs, our expertise) and after that, it is our job to be demanding.” [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. College tuition is likened to hiring a personal trainer; professors provide tools and expertise, but students must work hard to benefit. **In simple terms:** Education is a partnership where effort matters. Key Takeaway Invest effort, reap knowledge. Themes education effort partnership Mood reflective inspirational Type advice motivational When to use this quote - college enrollment - self‑directed study - academic planning Key Concepts learning mentorship resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - How can students stay motivated without external pressure? - What role should institutions play in encouraging effort? A Different Perspective If resources are abundant, motivation may still lag. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College tuition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-tuition/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Expertise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expertise/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Labs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Personal Trainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-trainer/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Professors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professors/) [Teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachers/) [Tuition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tuition/) ## Related quotes > [I commend the parents who are sending their children to a Catholic school, because they're making a sacrifice, and they're paying twice for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/i-commend-the-parents-who-are-sending-their-children-to-a-catholic/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [Every person in this country who has the desire and ability should be able to get all the education they need regardless of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/every-person-in-this-country-who-has-the-desire-and-ability-should-be/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Progressive visions pale and are smashed next to the normalization of market-driven government policies that wipe out pensions, eliminate quality health care, punish unions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/progressive-visions-pale-and-are-smashed-next-to-the-normalization-of/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents savings were being spent on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-naively-chose-a-college-that-was-almost-as-expensive-as-stanford/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Bernie Sanders did not wake up last night with this great idea that we should guarantee health care to all people as a right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/bernie-sanders-did-not-wake-up-last-night-with-this-great-idea-that/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Education should be a right, not a privilege. We need a revolution in the way that the United States funds higher education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/education-should-be-a-right-not-a-privilege-we-need-a-revolution-in/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I believe that if we have to pay 100 percent for our college tuition, and then we get into the workplace, and we're only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/i-believe-that-if-we-have-to-pay-100-percent-for-our-college-tuition/) [Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/) > [We have got to make sure that every qualified American in this country who wants to go to college can go to college --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/we-have-got-to-make-sure-that-every-qualified-american-in-this/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [How can the United States be competitive globally if higher education is unaffordable? Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Scotland and Sweden have no tuition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/how-can-the-united-states-be-competitive-globally-if-higher-education/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [It's great to talk about how good things are now. But we can't sit on our laurels and expect that our time will sustain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-davis/it-s-great-to-talk-about-how-good-things-are-now-but-we-can-t-sit-on/) [Wendy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-davis/) > [I left school December of 1988. I was 21 at the time. And I hadn't quite finished my degree because I had done eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/i-left-school-december-of-1988-i-was-21-at-the-time-and-i-hadn-t/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Higher education isn't just a personal investment. It's a public good that pays off in a more competitive workforce and better-informed and engaged citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/higher-education-isn-t-just-a-personal-investment-it-s-a-public-good/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Before I was governor, tuition was skyrocketing, and we stopped that. We capped and then we froze college tuition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/before-i-was-governor-tuition-was-skyrocketing-and-we-stopped-that-we/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [I want to make college tuition-free for the middle class and debt-free for everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-want-to-make-college-tuition-free-for-the-middle-class-and-debt/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [If there were no government-guaranteed student loans, college tuition would be much lower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/if-there-were-no-government-guaranteed-student-loans-college-tuition/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) ## More by Randy Pausch > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you're frustrated with people, when they've made you angry, it just may be because you haven't given them enough time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-re-frustrated-with-people-when-they-ve-made-you-angry-it/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I was hugely impressed... was the ultimate example of a man who knew what he didn't know, was perfectly willing to admit it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-was-hugely-impressed-was-the-ultimate-example-of-a-man-who-knew/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [There's nothing about my life that I would have changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-s-nothing-about-my-life-that-i-would-have-changed/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Complaining does not work as a strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/complaining-does-not-work-as-a-strategy/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“If other people owe you an apology, and your words of apology to them are proper and heartfelt, you still may not hear from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/if-other-people-owe-you-an-apology-and-your-words-of-apology-to-them/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“The brick walls are there for a reason. they're not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/the-brick-walls-are-there-for-a-reason-they-re-not-there-to-keep-us/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [People are more important than things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/people-are-more-important-than-things/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Anyone who knows me well will tell you that arrogance is one of my flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/anyone-who-knows-me-well-will-tell-you-that-arrogance-is-one-of-my/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you do the right thing, good stuff has a way of happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-do-the-right-thing-good-stuff-has-a-way-of-happening/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I don't believe in the no-win scenario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-don-t-believe-in-the-no-win-scenario/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Chemo days make me tired, though it's hard to say that's because of the chemo when you have kids who have inherited their dad's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/chemo-days-make-me-tired-though-it-s-hard-to-say-that-s-because-of/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [And even though I did not reach the National Football League, I sometimes think I got more from pursuing that dream, and not accomplishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/and-even-though-i-did-not-reach-the-national-football-league-i/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [there should be some lessons learned and how you can use the stuff you hear today to achieve your dreams or enable the dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-should-be-some-lessons-learned-and-how-you-can-use-the-stuff/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Explore all 347 Randy Pausch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## More Athletic quotes > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I had no musical or athletic ability, and I wasn't particularly good looking. 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They have a quicker turn of pace but more than anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-murray/players-at-the-top-level-are-generally-more-athletic-stronger-and/) [Glenn Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-murray/) > [Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential. It's dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/natural-talent-only-determines-the-limits-of-your-athletic-potential/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [I was very, very large as a kid and never athletic, and my home life was a little upside down and I never felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-garrett/i-was-very-very-large-as-a-kid-and-never-athletic-and-my-home-life/) [Brad Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-garrett/) > [There are a lot of athletic trends that I don't have. 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You'd be surprised how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/most-amateurs-are-so-worried-about-mis-hitting-the-shot-or-hitting-it/) [Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/) > [I do a lot of things well, I'm very athletic, I play against guys who are also very athletic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiggins/i-do-a-lot-of-things-well-i-m-very-athletic-i-play-against-guys-who/) [Andrew Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiggins/) > [I do have high expectations for Alex Riley. He seems athletic, articulate and intelligent. 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