--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Back when I was in school, few people…" description: "\"Back when I was in school, few people understood dyslexia and what to do for it. My teachers thought I was lazy and not very clever, and I got bored ea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/richard-branson-256_dyslexia_back-when-i-was-in-school-few-people-und_528795.jpg" --- # Back when I was in school, few people understood dyslexia… ![“Back when I was in school, few people understood dyslexia and what to do for it. My teachers thought I was lazy and not very clever, and I got bored easily... thinking of all the things I could do once I left school. I couldn't always follow what was going on.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/richard-branson-256_dyslexia_back-when-i-was-in-school-few-people-und_528795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/richard-branson-256_dyslexia_back-when-i-was-in-school-few-people-und_528795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/richard-branson-256_dyslexia_back-when-i-was-in-school-few-people-und_528795.jpg) > “Back when I was in school, few people understood dyslexia and what to do for it. My teachers thought I was lazy and not very clever, and I got bored easily... thinking of all the things I could do once I left school. I couldn't always follow what was going on.” [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early misunderstanding of learning differences can lead to mislabeling and missed potential. **In simple terms:** Misunderstanding dyslexia caused false judgments of laziness. Key Takeaway Support diverse learning needs to unlock hidden talent. Themes education inclusion potential Mood empathetic optimistic Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - classroom teaching - career counseling - personal development Key Concepts Neurodiversity self‑advocacy Questions to Reflect On - How can schools better support neurodiverse students? - What strengths might be hidden behind a diagnosis? A Different Perspective Labeling can limit growth and self‑esteem. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dyslexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dyslexia/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I had an issue with dyslexia before they understood what dyslexia was. One of my teachers, Mrs. Anderson, taught me to look at it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/i-had-an-issue-with-dyslexia-before-they-understood-what-dyslexia-was/) [John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/) > [I had lots of trouble in school as a child, and I lost confidence. Teachers thought I was stupid. I learned to read very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rogers/i-had-lots-of-trouble-in-school-as-a-child-and-i-lost-confidence/) [Richard Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rogers/) > [I was diagnosed with dyslexia in third grade and had gone to a special school for it and then left the school. I'd learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-was-diagnosed-with-dyslexia-in-third-grade-and-had-gone-to-a/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I was cripplingly shy. When I was in high school, my teachers thought I was mentally disabled because I wouldn't be able to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-was-cripplingly-shy-when-i-was-in-high-school-my-teachers-thought-i/) [Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/) > [“Samantha Jennings sat next to him. Teachers thought Samantha was fantastic: always volunteering for stuff, neat uniform, glossed nails. She did all her diagrams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-muchamore/samantha-jennings-sat-next-to-him-teachers-thought-samantha-was/) [Robert Muchamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-muchamore/) > [I suppose I was lucky enough to be educated at a time when teachers still thought children could handle knowledge. They trusted us. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/i-suppose-i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-educated-at-a-time-when-teachers/) [Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/) > [“There can be no knowledge without emotion. We may be aware of a truth, yet until we have felt its force, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/there-can-be-no-knowledge-without-emotion-we-may-be-aware-of-a-truth/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [A lot of my family were teachers, so that's what I always thought I'd end up being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keren-woodward/a-lot-of-my-family-were-teachers-so-that-s-what-i-always-thought-i-d/) [Keren Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keren-woodward/) > [All my coaches growing up, they were teachers, coaches, and I always had an appreciation for the most demanding teachers because I thought they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-thibodeau/all-my-coaches-growing-up-they-were-teachers-coaches-and-i-always-had/) [Tom Thibodeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-thibodeau/) > [But in any case, I did poorly on the tests and so, in the first three years of school, I had teachers who thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/but-in-any-case-i-did-poorly-on-the-tests-and-so-in-the-first-three/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [The teachers thought there was something wrong with me because I wouldn’t talk to other kids. I was almost playing mind games with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-way/the-teachers-thought-there-was-something-wrong-with-me-because-i/) [Mikey Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-way/) > [Perhaps my early problems with dyslexia made me more intuitive: when someone sends me a written proposal, rather than dwelling on detailed facts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/perhaps-my-early-problems-with-dyslexia-made-me-more-intuitive-when/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I was trouble - and always in trouble. Aged eight I still couldn't read. In fact, I was dyslexic and short-sighted. Despite sitting at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-was-trouble-and-always-in-trouble-aged-eight-i-still-couldn-t-read/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Being dyslexic can actually help in the outside world. I see some things clearer than other people do because I have to simplify things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/being-dyslexic-can-actually-help-in-the-outside-world-i-see-some/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [When I graduated from high school, I thought I wanted to make science fiction movies, so I applied to film school, but I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-yansong/when-i-graduated-from-high-school-i-thought-i-wanted-to-make-science/) [Ma Yansong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-yansong/) ## More by Richard Branson > [Lavish praise on people and people will flourish; criticize people and they'll shrivel up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lavish-praise-on-people-and-people-will-flourish-criticize-people-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Fantasizing about the future is one of my favorite pastimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/fantasizing-about-the-future-is-one-of-my-favorite-pastimes/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I will work day and night to avoid failure, but if I can't, I'll pick myself up the next day. The most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-will-work-day-and-night-to-avoid-failure-but-if-i-can-t-i-ll-pick/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Tough times are inevitable in life and in business. But how you compose yourself during those times defines your spirit and will define your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/tough-times-are-inevitable-in-life-and-in-business-but-how-you/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [All successful people - not just entrepreneurs - have got things wrong over and over again before finding the right solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/all-successful-people-not-just-entrepreneurs-have-got-things-wrong/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [We have the enormous opportunity in our hands to make a positive difference for business, people, and the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/we-have-the-enormous-opportunity-in-our-hands-to-make-a-positive/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I'm a great believer in life to saying yes and not saying no, and hopefully making people smile and just having fun in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-m-a-great-believer-in-life-to-saying-yes-and-not-saying-no-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Money is a poor indicator of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/money-is-a-poor-indicator-of-success/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Business leaders take things far too seriously, and forget that most of the time people spend in their lives is at work, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/business-leaders-take-things-far-too-seriously-and-forget-that-most/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I love the freedom of movement that my phone gives me. That has definitely transformed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-love-the-freedom-of-movement-that-my-phone-gives-me-that-has/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Everything in your business can be outsourced... if you're not emotionally attached to doing it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/everything-in-your-business-can-be-outsourced-if-you-re-not/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [People have to decide on priorities if they want to get anywhere. The best lessons I learned was to just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/people-have-to-decide-on-priorities-if-they-want-to-get-anywhere-the/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [There isn't a flight goes by when I don't stare out of the window and thank my stars for what I'm seeing and feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/there-isn-t-a-flight-goes-by-when-i-don-t-stare-out-of-the-window-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) [Explore all 805 Richard Branson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) ## More Dyslexia quotes > [A lot of people say they are dyslexic; some have to realize that they are just stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/a-lot-of-people-say-they-are-dyslexic-some-have-to-realize-that-they/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [There is a talent in dyslexia - it can help you see things creatively. So I wouldn't change a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-william-middleton/there-is-a-talent-in-dyslexia-it-can-help-you-see-things-creatively/) [James William Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-william-middleton/) > [I want people to know that you can have dyslexia and still reach your goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-ryan/i-want-people-to-know-that-you-can-have-dyslexia-and-still-reach-your/) [Rex Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-ryan/) > [If anybody has walked down the road and someone says turn left and you take a right that's a form of dyslexia. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/if-anybody-has-walked-down-the-road-and-someone-says-turn-left-and/) [Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/) > [Perhaps my early problems with dyslexia made me more intuitive: when someone sends me a written proposal, rather than dwelling on detailed facts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/perhaps-my-early-problems-with-dyslexia-made-me-more-intuitive-when/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I was trouble - and always in trouble. Aged eight I still couldn't read. In fact, I was dyslexic and short-sighted. Despite sitting at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-was-trouble-and-always-in-trouble-aged-eight-i-still-couldn-t-read/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Hooked on Phonics worked for me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/hooked-on-phonics-worked-for-me/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) > [“You can't get dyslexia from pussy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-easton-ellis/you-can-t-get-dyslexia-from-pussy/) [Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/) > [I have made number mistakes - I have such bad number dyslexia that I can look at a number and see the wrong one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/i-have-made-number-mistakes-i-have-such-bad-number-dyslexia-that-i/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [ Somebody said, 'Hey, there is a lull in your career. Why don't you write books about your \[dyslexia\]?' We are currently writing our 34th… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-winkler/somebody-said-hey-there-is-a-lull-in-your-career-why-don-t-you-write/) [Henry Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-winkler/) > [The more we learn about dyslexia, the more able we will be to help those with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/the-more-we-learn-about-dyslexia-the-more-able-we-will-be-to-help/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [While I was writing the book, one of my children was diagnosed with dyslexia. Dyslexia is a very tiny word for a wide-ranging neurological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-o-farrell/while-i-was-writing-the-book-one-of-my-children-was-diagnosed-with/) [Maggie O'Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-o-farrell/) > [I couldn't sit down and write a novel or a short story - even now - because of my dyslexia. But I learned narration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/i-couldn-t-sit-down-and-write-a-novel-or-a-short-story-even-now/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [With my recovery programme, I have to do a daily inventory of how my day has been. I am terribly dyslexic and have attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/with-my-recovery-programme-i-have-to-do-a-daily-inventory-of-how-my/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [It caused more problems as a young kid, because the simple process of perceiving words on a piece of paper was hard for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-jenner/it-caused-more-problems-as-a-young-kid-because-the-simple-process-of/) [Bruce Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-jenner/) [Browse all 180 Dyslexia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dyslexia/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Back when I was in school, few people understood dyslexia and what to do for it. My teachers thought I was lazy and not very clever, and I got bored easily... thinking of all the things I could do once I left school. 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