--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At 20, I realized that I could not…" description: "\"At 20, I realized that I could not possibly adjust to a feminine role as conceived by my father and asked him permission to engage in a professional ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/rita-levi-montalcini-22012_career_at-20-i-realized-that-i-could-not-possib_1303842.jpg" --- # At 20, I realized that I could not possibly adjust to a… ![“At 20, I realized that I could not possibly adjust to a feminine role as conceived by my father and asked him permission to engage in a professional career. In eight months I filled my gaps in Latin, Greek and mathematics, graduated from high school, and entered medical school in Turin.” quote by Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/rita-levi-montalcini-22012_career_at-20-i-realized-that-i-could-not-possib_1303842.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/rita-levi-montalcini-22012_career_at-20-i-realized-that-i-could-not-possib_1303842.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/rita-levi-montalcini-22012_career_at-20-i-realized-that-i-could-not-possib_1303842.jpg) > “At 20, I realized that I could not possibly adjust to a feminine role as conceived by my father and asked him permission to engage in a professional career. In eight months I filled my gaps in Latin, Greek and mathematics, graduated from high school, and entered medical school in Turin.” [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She defied gender expectations, pursued education, and entered a demanding field through determination. **In simple terms:** Defy expectations, pursue goals. Key Takeaway Persist despite barriers. Themes gender equality education determination career science Mood inspired hopeful Type autobiographical motivational When to use this quote - academic pursuits - career change - personal growth Key Concepts biographical inspiration women in STEM Questions to Reflect On - What barriers have you faced in your career? - How can you support others breaking norms? A Different Perspective Societal resistance can persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Feminine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminine/) [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Medical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical/) [Medical school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical-school/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Professional career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-career/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [Krushna is my boyfriend but my life doesn't begin and end with him and neither does his professional career begin and end with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kashmira-shah/krushna-is-my-boyfriend-but-my-life-doesn-t-begin-and-end-with-him/) [Kashmira Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kashmira-shah/) > [Although I was not aware of it at the time, the experience of growing up during the Great Depression was to have a profound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-was-not-aware-of-it-at-the-time-the-experience-of-growing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mother is somebody who I think of as having just an intense close focus. She's somebody who really can pay very, very close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-plotz/my-mother-is-somebody-who-i-think-of-as-having-just-an-intense-close/) [David Plotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-plotz/) > [I started off and I didn't have the advantage like other fighters of having an amateur career to grow and learn and make mistakes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carmouche/i-started-off-and-i-didn-t-have-the-advantage-like-other-fighters-of/) [Liz Carmouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carmouche/) > ['Party Down' was one of the most magical, special experiences of my professional career. Also special in my personal life, too. I made really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-marino/party-down-was-one-of-the-most-magical-special-experiences-of-my/) [Ken Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-marino/) > [I loved playing with friends and talking trash over 'FIFA' and 'Mario Kart.' Then, in the early stages of my professional career, I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/i-loved-playing-with-friends-and-talking-trash-over-fifa-and-mario/) [Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/) > [I started in my pro debut in a leisure centre in front of a couple of hundred people and I just worked hard for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-fielding/i-started-in-my-pro-debut-in-a-leisure-centre-in-front-of-a-couple-of/) [Rocky Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-fielding/) > [I don't mind talking about my professional career, but I hate interviews if I have to answer a stupid question about personal matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/i-don-t-mind-talking-about-my-professional-career-but-i-hate/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [I spent more than 20 years of my professional career researching and developing renewable energy sources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-mcnerney/i-spent-more-than-20-years-of-my-professional-career-researching-and/) [Jerry McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-mcnerney/) > [When I thought my professional career was over, it hadn't even started yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ina-garten/when-i-thought-my-professional-career-was-over-it-hadn-t-even-started/) [Ina Garten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ina-garten/) > [The two greatest role models in my professional career were Walt Disney and Dr. Deming. Dr. Deming was the Father of Total Quality Management…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-capodagli/the-two-greatest-role-models-in-my-professional-career-were-walt/) [Bill Capodagli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-capodagli/) > [I was pursuing the arts with theater in school, and I was doing after-school activities, but not in any real movement towards a professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzo-aduba/i-was-pursuing-the-arts-with-theater-in-school-and-i-was-doing-after/) [Uzo Aduba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzo-aduba/) > [I do think Briedis will be the toughest opponent I have faced in my professional career. He is 23-0, he's a cruiserweight, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oleksandr-usyk/i-do-think-briedis-will-be-the-toughest-opponent-i-have-faced-in-my/) [Oleksandr Usyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oleksandr-usyk/) > [It is just the start of your professional career and you have to handle it properly and realise that it is not always like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-bellerin/it-is-just-the-start-of-your-professional-career-and-you-have-to/) [Hector Bellerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-bellerin/) > [The worst days of those who enjoy what they do are better than the best days of those who don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-worst-days-of-those-who-enjoy-what-they-do-are-better-than-the/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) ## More by Rita Levi-Montalcini > [ As for the presence of large NGF \[nerve growth factor\] sources in snake venom and male genital organs, they may be conceived as instances… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/as-for-the-presence-of-large-ngf-nerve-growth-factor-sources-in-snake/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [It is imperfection - not perfection - that is the end result of the program written into that formidably complex engine that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/it-is-imperfection-not-perfection-that-is-the-end-result-of-the/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [Babies did not attract me, and I was altogether without the maternal sense so highly developed in small and adolescent girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/babies-did-not-attract-me-and-i-was-altogether-without-the-maternal/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [At 100, I have a mind that is superior - thanks to experience- than when i was 20.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/at-100-i-have-a-mind-that-is-superior-thanks-to-experience-than-when/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [My life has been enriched by excellent human relations, work and interests. I have never felt lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/my-life-has-been-enriched-by-excellent-human-relations-work-and/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [The four of us enjoyed a most wonderful family atmosphere filled with love and reciprocal devotion. Both parents were highly cultured and instilled in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/the-four-of-us-enjoyed-a-most-wonderful-family-atmosphere-filled-with/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [Progress depends on our brain. The most important part of our brain, that which is neocortical, must be used to help others and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/progress-depends-on-our-brain-the-most-important-part-of-our-brain/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [I told Mother of my decision to study medicine. She encouraged me to speak to Father... I began in a roundabout way... He listened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/i-told-mother-of-my-decision-to-study-medicine-she-encouraged-me-to/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [If I had not been discriminated against or had not suffered persecution, I would never have received the Nobel Prize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/if-i-had-not-been-discriminated-against-or-had-not-suffered/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [After a short period spent in Brussels as a guest of a neurological institute, I returned to Turin on the verge of the invasion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/after-a-short-period-spent-in-brussels-as-a-guest-of-a-neurological/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [You've been thinking about something without willing to for a long time...Then, all of a sudden, the problem is opened to you in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/you-ve-been-thinking-about-something-without-willing-to-for-a-long/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [I tell young people: Do not think of yourself, think of others. Think of the future that awaits you, think about what you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/i-tell-young-people-do-not-think-of-yourself-think-of-others-think-of/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [I say to the young, be happy that you were born in Italy because of the beauty of the human capital, both masculine and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/i-say-to-the-young-be-happy-that-you-were-born-in-italy-because-of/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [Find first peace within yourself. Don't eat too much. Keep your brain active. Love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/find-first-peace-within-yourself-don-t-eat-too-much-keep-your-brain/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [I should thank Mussolini for having declared me to be of an inferior race. This led me to the joy of working, not any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/i-should-thank-mussolini-for-having-declared-me-to-be-of-an-inferior/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) [Explore all 26 Rita Levi-Montalcini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [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 once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At 20, I realized that I could not possibly adjust to a feminine role as conceived by my father and asked him permission to engage in a professional career. 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