--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A degree helps to a degree, but your work…" description: "\"“A degree helps to a degree, but your work is largely what you create it to be.”\" — Ryan Lilly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/ryan-lilly-9302_college_a-degree-helps-to-a-degree-but-your-work_942208.jpg" --- # A degree helps to a degree, but your work is largely what… ![“A degree helps to a degree, but your work is largely what you create it to be.” quote by Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/ryan-lilly-9302_college_a-degree-helps-to-a-degree-but-your-work_942208.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/ryan-lilly-9302_college_a-degree-helps-to-a-degree-but-your-work_942208.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/ryan-lilly-9302_college_a-degree-helps-to-a-degree-but-your-work_942208.jpg) > ““A degree helps to a degree, but your work is largely what you create it to be.”” [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Education provides some advantage, but personal effort determines ultimate success. **In simple terms:** Work matters more than degree. Key Takeaway Focus on creating value. Themes education effort success Mood determined realistic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career development - entrepreneurship - academic pursuits Key Concepts human capital self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - How can you leverage your skills without a degree? - What value do you add beyond credentials? A Different Perspective Degrees may open doors but won’t guarantee achievement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Degree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degree/) [Degree Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degree-helps-1618025/) [Degree Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degree-work-1618024/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Helps Degree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helps-degree-1618026/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Largely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-largely-1524335/) ## Related quotes > [If you're graduating from high school, and you come from a lower income family, you're effectively given two options. One is get a four-year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance-2/if-you-re-graduating-from-high-school-and-you-come-from-a-lower/) [J. D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance-2/) > [As a comedy writer, I work largely from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/as-a-comedy-writer-i-work-largely-from-home/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [“Virtually all organisations known to you work largely by means of your greed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/virtually-all-organisations-known-to-you-work-largely-by-means-of/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [I'm born in Alaska, grew up in Colorado, went to college in Colorado, went to Colorado State, and I actually finished my degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-theler/i-m-born-in-alaska-grew-up-in-colorado-went-to-college-in-colorado/) [Derek Theler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-theler/) > [Basically, I was always very interested in comedy, but I was much more sort of academic. 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You just need to think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/you-don-t-need-a-science-degree-to-understand-about-science-you-just/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [In many ways, a degree in the history of ideas is the ideal training for an aspiring writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/in-many-ways-a-degree-in-the-history-of-ideas-is-the-ideal-training/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [I wouldn't wish any specific thing for any specific person - it's none of my business. 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I know that shouldn't dictate a person's degree of peace or happiness in life, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evans/what-if-i-couldn-t-handle-people-s-opinions-of-me-i-know-that-shouldn/) [Chris Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evans/) > [Manchester Youth theater, then the National Student Theater Company, and later, my degree course, all helped form my love of telling stories and directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-chadwick/manchester-youth-theater-then-the-national-student-theater-company/) [Justin Chadwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-chadwick/) > [You're Dominican only if you do this, this, and that. And if you do this and that, you'll be accepted to a certain degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-re-dominican-only-if-you-do-this-this-and-that-and-if-you-do-this/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) ## More by Ryan Lilly > [“I've never written a quote I feel would be suitable for my gravestone. Wouldn't it be ironic if it were this one? Oh, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/i-ve-never-written-a-quote-i-feel-would-be-suitable-for-my-gravestone/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Contributors and distributors tend to do better at personal branding than takers and fakers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/contributors-and-distributors-tend-to-do-better-at-personal-branding/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Be a pro at what you do. No one shows-up to meetings of the Unsuccessful Skydivers Club.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/be-a-pro-at-what-you-do-no-one-shows-up-to-meetings-of-the/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Personal brands are determined by a track record of actions, not a track record of plans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/personal-brands-are-determined-by-a-track-record-of-actions-not-a/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Don't simply dream, create. Don't simply create, ship. Don't simply ship, dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/don-t-simply-dream-create-don-t-simply-create-ship-don-t-simply-ship/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Yeast is to flour as action is to ambition. 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The one thing everyone else has in common is that they haven’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/the-one-thing-all-entrepreneurs-have-in-common-is-that-they-started/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Sensible brands lend themselves to all of the senses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/sensible-brands-lend-themselves-to-all-of-the-senses/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“You can't force creatives into a box. If you try, they'll no longer be creative. And no one will want your box.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/you-can-t-force-creatives-into-a-box-if-you-try-they-ll-no-longer-be/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Those without passion are often passed and shunned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/those-without-passion-are-often-passed-and-shunned/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Jarod Kintz gets so many retweets, he’s like Katniss Everdeen with tourettes in a forest full of Mockingjays.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/jarod-kintz-gets-so-many-retweets-he-s-like-katniss-everdeen-with/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Yesterday is a pile of rubble. Today is a pile of opportunity. Life takes a new dump each morning”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/yesterday-is-a-pile-of-rubble-today-is-a-pile-of-opportunity-life/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“I like to go to Starbucks and watch the intellectuals. I observe them and their intellectualness. They in turn observe me drinking coffee and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/i-like-to-go-to-starbucks-and-watch-the-intellectuals-i-observe-them/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) [Explore all 74 Ryan Lilly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) ## More College quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. 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They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. 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I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) [Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A degree helps to a degree, but your work is largely what you create it to be.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan Lilly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/a-degree-helps-to-a-degree-but-your-work-is-largely-what-you-create/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "College" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/a-degree-helps-to-a-degree-but-your-work-is-largely-what-you-create/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/ryan-lilly-9302_college_a-degree-helps-to-a-degree-but-your-work_942208.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/ryan-lilly-9302_college_a-degree-helps-to-a-degree-but-your-work_942208.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/ryan-lilly-9302_college_a-degree-helps-to-a-degree-but-your-work_942208.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A degree helps to a degree, but your work is largely what you create it to be.” — Ryan Lilly", "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": "Ryan Lilly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A degree helps to a degree,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/a-degree-helps-to-a-degree-but-your-work-is-largely-what-you-create/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/a-degree-helps-to-a-degree-but-your-work-is-largely-what-you-create/#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 } } ] } ```