--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Education has been critical. First at…" description: "\"Education has been critical. First at Kansas and then at Harvard Business School. It helped me build the confidence that I could go out and do things i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/robert-s-kaplan-14993_believer_education-has-been-critical-first-at-kan_1029056.jpg" --- # Education has been critical. First at Kansas and then at… ![“Education has been critical. First at Kansas and then at Harvard Business School. It helped me build the confidence that I could go out and do things in the world. It taught me to put myself in the shoes of a decision maker and figure out what I would do if I were in his/her shoes. This is why I…” quote by Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/robert-s-kaplan-14993_believer_education-has-been-critical-first-at-kan_1029056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/robert-s-kaplan-14993_believer_education-has-been-critical-first-at-kan_1029056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/robert-s-kaplan-14993_believer_education-has-been-critical-first-at-kan_1029056.jpg) > “Education has been critical. First at Kansas and then at Harvard Business School. It helped me build the confidence that I could go out and do things in the world. It taught me to put myself in the shoes of a decision maker and figure out what I would do if I were in his/her shoes. This is why I am a big believer in education as a foundation for reaching your unique potential.” [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Education builds confidence and empathy, enabling one to act effectively as a decision maker and reach personal potential. **In simple terms:** Education gives confidence and perspective. Key Takeaway Invest in learning to expand your impact. Themes education confidence empathy potential Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - public service - personal growth Key Concepts self‑actualization leadership decision‑making Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply learned confidence in real decisions? - What gaps remain after formal education? A Different Perspective Education alone may not guarantee success without practical experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Critical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education Critical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-critical-1858290/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Helped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-helped-2339796/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-taught-831442/) ## Related quotes > [On this International Literacy Day, let us recall that literacy for all is an integral part of education for all, and that both are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/on-this-international-literacy-day-let-us-recall-that-literacy-for/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Education is critical not only to each one of us individually, but also to build the economic vitality of our state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hoeven/education-is-critical-not-only-to-each-one-of-us-individually-but/) [John Hoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hoeven/) > [Definitely had a lot of training since a young age. My teachers in high school have always helped me, gave me encouragement, taught me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanice-williams/definitely-had-a-lot-of-training-since-a-young-age-my-teachers-in/) [Shanice Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanice-williams/) > [I did wrestling in high school; that helped, as far as technique goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fallon-fox/i-did-wrestling-in-high-school-that-helped-as-far-as-technique-goes/) [Fallon Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fallon-fox/) > [I was barely in grade school when I helped my mother rearrange the living room furniture for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-was-barely-in-grade-school-when-i-helped-my-mother-rearrange-the/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [For me, sports is a big part of my life. It helped me through high school. It helped me get better grades, because if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-charvet/for-me-sports-is-a-big-part-of-my-life-it-helped-me-through-high/) [David Charvet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-charvet/) > [Boxing's a bit like the Army, nine out of 10 people come out as pretty nice people. It taught me self-worth, to respect my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/boxing-s-a-bit-like-the-army-nine-out-of-10-people-come-out-as-pretty/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [The production of knowledge in schools today is instrumental, wedded to objective outcomes, privatized, and is largely geared to produce consuming subjects. The organizational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/the-production-of-knowledge-in-schools-today-is-instrumental-wedded/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Education is critical for people to become compassionate. If you don't know the problem and you don't know the reality, how can you help?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marla-ruzicka/education-is-critical-for-people-to-become-compassionate-if-you-don-t/) [Marla Ruzicka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marla-ruzicka/) > [Education is a protective factor that helps end the cycle of poverty. It empowers the girls not just financially but also emotionally. They see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-sinclair/education-is-a-protective-factor-that-helps-end-the-cycle-of-poverty/) [Stephanie Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-sinclair/) > [It is important and vital is to keep that education for critical consciousness around intersectionalities, so that people are able to not focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-is-important-and-vital-is-to-keep-that-education-for-critical/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“The critical habit of thought, if usual in society, will pervade all its mores, because it is a way of taking up the problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-critical-habit-of-thought-if-usual-in-society-will-pervade-all/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [You were born into fearlessness, but the world may have taught you to fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-were-born-into-fearlessness-but-the-world-may-have-taught-you-to/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [When you come from the wrestling world, you are taught to do everything for yourself: market yourself, plan for yourself, design for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-rhodes/when-you-come-from-the-wrestling-world-you-are-taught-to-do/) [Brandi Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-rhodes/) > [Being in the EDM world taught me that nothing's impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-beats/being-in-the-edm-world-taught-me-that-nothing-s-impossible/) [Kenny Beats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-beats/) ## More by Robert S. Kaplan > [“To improve your skills, you need to be receptive to constructive criticism and open to feeling uncomfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/to-improve-your-skills-you-need-to-be-receptive-to-constructive/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [I like films about people who figured out what they believed and had the guts to act on it in a way that added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/i-like-films-about-people-who-figured-out-what-they-believed-and-had/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [“If you want to reach your potential, you must be willing to figure out what you believe and have the courage to act on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/if-you-want-to-reach-your-potential-you-must-be-willing-to-figure-out/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Leadership is a team sport - learning to work with others is a critical skill. This means articulating a clear vision, setting priorities, giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/leadership-is-a-team-sport-learning-to-work-with-others-is-a-critical/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Consistent alignment of capabilities and internal processes with the customer value proposition is the core of any strategy execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/consistent-alignment-of-capabilities-and-internal-processes-with-the/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Managing risk is very different from managing strategy. Risk management focuses on the negative-threats and failures rather than opportunities and successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/managing-risk-is-very-different-from-managing-strategy-risk/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Reaching your potential is a disciplined process. Like losing weight or getting in shape - there is no final destination and it requires you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/reaching-your-potential-is-a-disciplined-process-like-losing-weight/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [In my opinion, you have to have a vision for how you add value to others through your product or service. Why do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/in-my-opinion-you-have-to-have-a-vision-for-how-you-add-value-to/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [You never do arrive at a destination. You have to work at it and take ownership of the process. What resonates at age 25…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/you-never-do-arrive-at-a-destination-you-have-to-work-at-it-and-take/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [To help people with the struggle, I have to reveal my own struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/to-help-people-with-the-struggle-i-have-to-reveal-my-own-struggles/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [If you're the smartest person in the room, it can sometimes be hard to learn to delegate - the person to whom you're delegating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/if-you-re-the-smartest-person-in-the-room-it-can-sometimes-be-hard-to/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Rather than the word career, I prefer to discuss how you make a positive I pact on the world. This could mean raising your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/rather-than-the-word-career-i-prefer-to-discuss-how-you-make-a/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Screening out peer pressure and conventional wisdom. It is so powerful, that most of us aren't even aware of how much it is influencing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/screening-out-peer-pressure-and-conventional-wisdom-it-is-so-powerful/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Change efforts happen when a firm is out of alignment with achieving its vision. If the organization has broad buy-in on a clear vision,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/change-efforts-happen-when-a-firm-is-out-of-alignment-with-achieving/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Why do leaders fail? Isolation and inability to learn. They are afraid to express doubt, admit vulnerability or seek advice from subordinates. Leaders must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/why-do-leaders-fail-isolation-and-inability-to-learn-they-are-afraid/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) [Explore all 44 Robert S. Kaplan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) ## More Believer quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [God has given believers the responsibility of spreading the Gospel to all the world, and we need to use all at our disposal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-epp/god-has-given-believers-the-responsibility-of-spreading-the-gospel-to/) [Theodore Epp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-epp/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [Jesus taught that the mark of the Christian is the observable love shown among all true believers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/jesus-taught-that-the-mark-of-the-christian-is-the-observable-love/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [I'm a great believer in people and their untapped potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-bester/i-m-a-great-believer-in-people-and-their-untapped-potential/) [Alfred Bester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-bester/) > [Revival is the Spirit's passion within the believer to know and to obey the total will of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/revival-is-the-spirit-s-passion-within-the-believer-to-know-and-to/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [I'm not a great believer in awards-of course the fact that I've never won one has nothing to do with it at all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/i-m-not-a-great-believer-in-awards-of-course-the-fact-that-i-ve-never/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [Intuitionists think that there are cases in which, say, some identity statement between real numbers is neither true nor false, even though we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-f-heck/intuitionists-think-that-there-are-cases-in-which-say-some-identity/) [Richard F. 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