--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While my classmates were reading their…" description: "\"While my classmates were reading their textbooks, I drew in the margins.\" — Robert Rauschenberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/robert-rauschenberg-5257_classmates_while-my-classmates-were-reading-their-t_2904485.jpg" --- # While my classmates were reading their textbooks, I drew… ![“While my classmates were reading their textbooks, I drew in the margins.” quote by Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/robert-rauschenberg-5257_classmates_while-my-classmates-were-reading-their-t_2904485.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/robert-rauschenberg-5257_classmates_while-my-classmates-were-reading-their-t_2904485.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/robert-rauschenberg-5257_classmates_while-my-classmates-were-reading-their-t_2904485.jpg) > “While my classmates were reading their textbooks, I drew in the margins.” [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights non‑conformist learning by doodling instead of reading textbooks **In simple terms:** Learned by drawing in margins, not just reading Key Takeaway Embrace personal learning styles Themes creativity education individualism Mood playful reflective Type anecdotal inspirational When to use this quote - classrooms - personal projects - creative brainstorming Key Concepts alternative learning visual thinking Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer visual notes over text? - How does marginal doodling affect retention? A Different Perspective Risk of missing formal knowledge while self‑directing ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Classmates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classmates/) [Classmates Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classmates-reading-4149499/) [Drew Margins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drew-margins-4149498/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Margins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/margins/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading Textbooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-textbooks-1718632/) [Textbooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/textbooks/) [Textbooks Drew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/textbooks-drew-4149497/) ## Related quotes > [I learned easily and had time to follow my inclination for sports (light athletics and skiing) and chemistry, which I taught myself by reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-huber/i-learned-easily-and-had-time-to-follow-my-inclination-for-sports/) [Robert Huber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-huber/) > [My personal trainer, she's been reading the textbooks, she doesn't want me to do too much, she says: 'Don't overheat, don't over-stretch, blah blah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-lewis/my-personal-trainer-she-s-been-reading-the-textbooks-she-doesn-t-want/) [Denise Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-lewis/) > [“But after years of teaching, we have decided that a lot of mothers just aren't reading textbooks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-mccutcheon-rosegg/but-after-years-of-teaching-we-have-decided-that-a-lot-of-mothers/) [Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-mccutcheon-rosegg/) > [The first bet I remember was on the Chargers in Super Bowl 29 with my classmates. I lost a lot of weeks' allowance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/the-first-bet-i-remember-was-on-the-chargers-in-super-bowl-29-with-my/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [My biggest phobia is spiders. When I was in second grade, one of my classmates got bitten. That did it for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-white/my-biggest-phobia-is-spiders-when-i-was-in-second-grade-one-of-my/) [Vanna White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-white/) > [When I was young, I was teased mercilessly by my classmates for being a redhead. I wasn't particularly well coordinated either, which made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-olstead/when-i-was-young-i-was-teased-mercilessly-by-my-classmates-for-being/) [Renee Olstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-olstead/) > [With my academic achievement in high school, I was accepted rather readily at Princeton and equally as fast at Yale, but my test scores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/with-my-academic-achievement-in-high-school-i-was-accepted-rather/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I am an only child and home-schooled, so I have no siblings or classmates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krohn/i-am-an-only-child-and-home-schooled-so-i-have-no-siblings-or/) [Jonathan Krohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krohn/) > [I was born in segregated Birmingham, Alabama. I didn't have a white classmate till we moved to Denver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-was-born-in-segregated-birmingham-alabama-i-didn-t-have-a-white/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [“Though his classmates supposedly hailed form "all fifty states, Guam, and twenty-two foreign lands," as President Affenlight said in his convocation address, they all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/though-his-classmates-supposedly-hailed-form-all-fifty-states-guam/) [Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/) > [When I turned 16, I got my driver's license like the rest of my classmates, but I also got an extra present: a two-day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/when-i-turned-16-i-got-my-driver-s-license-like-the-rest-of-my/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [In fact, if they didn't let me commute, I would not have taken the role because I wanted to graduate high school with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-chalke/in-fact-if-they-didn-t-let-me-commute-i-would-not-have-taken-the-role/) [Sarah Chalke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-chalke/) > [I was born in an earlier generation and, as a group, my classmates at Blair Academy and Princeton University were as ethical, straightforward, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-was-born-in-an-earlier-generation-and-as-a-group-my-classmates-at/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [I didn't like my classmates at Yale. George W.Bush was in my class. I didn't know it then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-didn-t-like-my-classmates-at-yale-george-w-bush-was-in-my-class-i/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [As seventh graders, my classmates and I would make rockets to see what made them fly and models of remote-controlled motor boats because Palanpur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pranav-mistry/as-seventh-graders-my-classmates-and-i-would-make-rockets-to-see-what/) [Pranav Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pranav-mistry/) ## More by Robert Rauschenberg > [Having to be different is the same trap as having to be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/having-to-be-different-is-the-same-trap-as-having-to-be-the-same/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [There is no reason not to consider the world as one gigantic painting,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/there-is-no-reason-not-to-consider-the-world-as-one-gigantic-painting/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [I'm quite taken aback when I get something that appears to be technically a good photograph, because it's not necessarily my intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-m-quite-taken-aback-when-i-get-something-that-appears-to-be/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [I was much happier when I had less responsibility... when my only responsibility was to my work and to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-was-much-happier-when-i-had-less-responsibility-when-my-only/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [It is neither Art for Art, nor Art against Art. I am for Art, but for Art that has nothing to do with Art.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/it-is-neither-art-for-art-nor-art-against-art-i-am-for-art-but-for/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [People ask me, 'Don't you ever run out of ideas?' In the first place I don't use ideas. Every time I have an idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/people-ask-me-don-t-you-ever-run-out-of-ideas-in-the-first-place-i/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [So that ideas of sort of relaxed symmetry have been something for years that I have been concerned with because I think that symmetry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/so-that-ideas-of-sort-of-relaxed-symmetry-have-been-something-for/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [I don't really trust ideas, especially good ones. Rather I put my trust in the materials that confront me, because they put me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-don-t-really-trust-ideas-especially-good-ones-rather-i-put-my-trust/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [I refuse to be in this world by myself. I want an open commitment from the rest of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-refuse-to-be-in-this-world-by-myself-i-want-an-open-commitment-from/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [The only thing that I could get with chance, and I never was able to use it, was that I would end up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/the-only-thing-that-i-could-get-with-chance-and-i-never-was-able-to/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [This telegram is a work of art if I say it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/this-telegram-is-a-work-of-art-if-i-say-it-is/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [Understanding is a form of blindness. Good art, I think, can never be understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/understanding-is-a-form-of-blindness-good-art-i-think-can-never-be/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [Sometimes I have taken photographs and just felt so excited that I could barely hold the camera steady, and the photo was boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/sometimes-i-have-taken-photographs-and-just-felt-so-excited-that-i/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [I am sick of talking about What and Why I am doing. I have always believed that the WORK is the word. Action is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-am-sick-of-talking-about-what-and-why-i-am-doing-i-have-always/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [And also the new excitement and variety of ways that the abstract expressionists were applying paint. You could put it on as though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/and-also-the-new-excitement-and-variety-of-ways-that-the-abstract/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) [Explore all 102 Robert Rauschenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) ## More Classmates quotes > [As seventh graders, my classmates and I would make rockets to see what made them fly and models of remote-controlled motor boats because Palanpur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pranav-mistry/as-seventh-graders-my-classmates-and-i-would-make-rockets-to-see-what/) [Pranav Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pranav-mistry/) > [My biggest phobia is spiders. When I was in second grade, one of my classmates got bitten. That did it for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-white/my-biggest-phobia-is-spiders-when-i-was-in-second-grade-one-of-my/) [Vanna White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-white/) > [When I turned 16, I got my driver's license like the rest of my classmates, but I also got an extra present: a two-day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/when-i-turned-16-i-got-my-driver-s-license-like-the-rest-of-my/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [The first bet I remember was on the Chargers in Super Bowl 29 with my classmates. I lost a lot of weeks' allowance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/the-first-bet-i-remember-was-on-the-chargers-in-super-bowl-29-with-my/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [I didn't like my classmates at Yale. George W.Bush was in my class. I didn't know it then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-didn-t-like-my-classmates-at-yale-george-w-bush-was-in-my-class-i/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I was born in an earlier generation and, as a group, my classmates at Blair Academy and Princeton University were as ethical, straightforward, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-was-born-in-an-earlier-generation-and-as-a-group-my-classmates-at/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [In fact, if they didn't let me commute, I would not have taken the role because I wanted to graduate high school with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-chalke/in-fact-if-they-didn-t-let-me-commute-i-would-not-have-taken-the-role/) [Sarah Chalke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-chalke/) > [“Though his classmates supposedly hailed form "all fifty states, Guam, and twenty-two foreign lands," as President Affenlight said in his convocation address, they all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/though-his-classmates-supposedly-hailed-form-all-fifty-states-guam/) [Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/) > [I was born in segregated Birmingham, Alabama. I didn't have a white classmate till we moved to Denver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-was-born-in-segregated-birmingham-alabama-i-didn-t-have-a-white/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I am an only child and home-schooled, so I have no siblings or classmates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krohn/i-am-an-only-child-and-home-schooled-so-i-have-no-siblings-or/) [Jonathan Krohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krohn/) > [With my academic achievement in high school, I was accepted rather readily at Princeton and equally as fast at Yale, but my test scores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/with-my-academic-achievement-in-high-school-i-was-accepted-rather/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [When I was young, I was teased mercilessly by my classmates for being a redhead. 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But I just knew acting was something I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maura-tierney/i-felt-intimidated-the-entire-time-i-was-in-school-by-my-teachers-and/) [Maura Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maura-tierney/) [Browse all 168 Classmates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classmates/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "While my classmates were reading their textbooks, I drew in the margins.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Rauschenberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/while-my-classmates-were-reading-their-textbooks-i-drew-in-the-margins/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Classmates" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/while-my-classmates-were-reading-their-textbooks-i-drew-in-the-margins/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/robert-rauschenberg-5257_classmates_while-my-classmates-were-reading-their-t_2904485.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/robert-rauschenberg-5257_classmates_while-my-classmates-were-reading-their-t_2904485.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/robert-rauschenberg-5257_classmates_while-my-classmates-were-reading-their-t_2904485.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“While my classmates were reading their textbooks, I drew in the margins.” — Robert Rauschenberg", "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": "Robert Rauschenberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "While my classmates were reading their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/while-my-classmates-were-reading-their-textbooks-i-drew-in-the-margins/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/while-my-classmates-were-reading-their-textbooks-i-drew-in-the-margins/#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 } } ] } ```