--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was performing at a New Jersey high…" description: "\"I was performing at a New Jersey high school, and I asked a class of 2,000 students, 'How many of you love mathematics?' and only one hand went up. And..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/shakuntala-devi-22933_asked_i-was-performing-at-a-new-jersey-high-sc_2218744.png" --- # I was performing at a New Jersey high school, and I asked… ![“I was performing at a New Jersey high school, and I asked a class of 2,000 students, 'How many of you love mathematics?' and only one hand went up. And that was the hand of the maths teacher!” quote by Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/shakuntala-devi-22933_asked_i-was-performing-at-a-new-jersey-high-sc_2218744.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/shakuntala-devi-22933_asked_i-was-performing-at-a-new-jersey-high-sc_2218744.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/shakuntala-devi-22933_asked_i-was-performing-at-a-new-jersey-high-sc_2218744.png) > “I was performing at a New Jersey high school, and I asked a class of 2,000 students, 'How many of you love mathematics?' and only one hand went up. And that was the hand of the maths teacher!” [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even experts can be overlooked; passion for a subject may be hidden among the masses. **In simple terms:** Even experts can be unseen. Key Takeaway Celebrate hidden talent. Themes education recognition humor Mood lighthearted inspirational Type educational humorous When to use this quote - classroom - public speaking - talent scouting Key Concepts psychology education Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize hidden expertise? - What motivates you to share knowledge? A Different Perspective Focus on numbers may ignore other strengths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Maths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maths/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) ## Related quotes > [“Knowing mathematics is like wearing a pair of X-ray specs that reveal hidden structures underneath the messy and chaotic surface of the world. Math…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-ellenberg/knowing-mathematics-is-like-wearing-a-pair-of-x-ray-specs-that-reveal-2/) [Jordan Ellenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-ellenberg/) > [“This is how I show my students that I love them - by putting books in their hands, by noticing what they are about,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donalyn-miller/this-is-how-i-show-my-students-that-i-love-them-by-putting-books-in-2/) [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) > [6 problems of students: Love life, Grades, Exams, Assignments, Teachers and most of all PAPERS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/6-problems-of-students-love-life-grades-exams-assignments-teachers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This is how I show my students that I love them—by putting books in their hands, by noticing what they are about, and finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donalyn-miller/this-is-how-i-show-my-students-that-i-love-them-by-putting-books-in/) [Donalyn Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donalyn-miller/) > [I love mathematics not only because it is applicable to technology but also because it is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rozsa-peter/i-love-mathematics-not-only-because-it-is-applicable-to-technology/) Rozsa Peter > [I grew up in Cambridge in England, and my love of mathematics dates from those early childhood days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/i-grew-up-in-cambridge-in-england-and-my-love-of-mathematics-dates/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [I would rather instill in my amateur students love, than knowledge, of music. Left with only knowledge, they will at the end close their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-bacon/i-would-rather-instill-in-my-amateur-students-love-than-knowledge-of/) [Ernst Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-bacon/) > [Children display a universal love of mathematics, which is par excellence the science of precision, order, and intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/children-display-a-universal-love-of-mathematics-which-is-par/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Especially students. I love to turn them on to a story. Some of them have to go see me as an assignment, like kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-c-boyle/especially-students-i-love-to-turn-them-on-to-a-story-some-of-them/) [T.C. Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-c-boyle/) > [I love mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamadosein/i-love-mathematics/) Mamadosein > [I want my students to love to read. Reading is not a subject. Reading is a foundation of life, an activity that people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/i-want-my-students-to-love-to-read-reading-is-not-a-subject-reading/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [I love mathematics...principally because it is beautiful; because man has breathed his spirit of play into it, and because it has given him his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rozsa-peter/i-love-mathematics-principally-because-it-is-beautiful-because-man/) Rozsa Peter > [“Do you know why I love mathematics?" "Because it blew your mind for free when you couldn't get drugs?" Eccles snorted in surprise. "Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-halpin/do-you-know-why-i-love-mathematics-because-it-blew-your-mind-for-free/) [Brendan Halpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-halpin/) > [Students shy away from Maths, but in reality Maths is the best friend of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/students-shy-away-from-maths-but-in-reality-maths-is-the-best-friend/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [I have been running maths clubs for children completely free. In my building in Bangalore, I conduct maths clubs for several months, and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/i-have-been-running-maths-clubs-for-children-completely-free-in-my/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) ## More by Shakuntala Devi > [Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [If you do not use a muscle or any part of the body, it tends to become atrophic. So is the case with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/if-you-do-not-use-a-muscle-or-any-part-of-the-body-it-tends-to-become/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [I travelled round the world giving demonstrations of my talents. In every country, I performed for students, professors, teachers, bankers, accountants, and even laymen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/i-travelled-round-the-world-giving-demonstrations-of-my-talents-in/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Immorality does not consist in being different. It consists in not allowing others to be so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/immorality-does-not-consist-in-being-different-it-consists-in-not/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [I cannot transfer my abilities to anyone, but I can think of quicker ways with which to help people develop numerical aptitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/i-cannot-transfer-my-abilities-to-anyone-but-i-can-think-of-quicker/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Knowing more about numbers and being acquainted with them will not only enrich our lives but also contribute towards managing our day to day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/knowing-more-about-numbers-and-being-acquainted-with-them-will-not/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [At three, I fell in love with numbers. It was sheer ecstasy for me to do sums and get the right answers. Numbers were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/at-three-i-fell-in-love-with-numbers-it-was-sheer-ecstasy-for-me-to/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Education is not just about going to school and getting a degree. It's about widening your knowledge and absorbing the truth about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/education-is-not-just-about-going-to-school-and-getting-a-degree-it-s/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Without mathematics, there’s nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics. Everything around you is numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/without-mathematics-there-s-nothing-you-can-do-everything-around-you/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [I have written a book called 'In the Wonderland of Numbers.' It's about a young girl, Neha, who is very poor in mathematics, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/i-have-written-a-book-called-in-the-wonderland-of-numbers-it-s-about/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Students shy away from Maths, but in reality Maths is the best friend of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/students-shy-away-from-maths-but-in-reality-maths-is-the-best-friend/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [I don't even possess a car. I ride in auto-rickshaws because I like to be a part of the masses. I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/i-don-t-even-possess-a-car-i-ride-in-auto-rickshaws-because-i-like-to/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Why do children dread mathematics? Because of the wrong approach. Because it is looked at as a subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/why-do-children-dread-mathematics-because-of-the-wrong-approach/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [I grew up in a semi-slum area in Gavipuram, Guttahalli.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/i-grew-up-in-a-semi-slum-area-in-gavipuram-guttahalli/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [What is mathematics? It is only a systematic effort of solving puzzles posed by nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/what-is-mathematics-it-is-only-a-systematic-effort-of-solving-puzzles/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) [Explore all 26 Shakuntala Devi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) ## More Asked quotes > [“Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "Because if I had the chance... 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It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The only thing Steve Jobs has ever asked me in all the years we've been together and have been partners, the only thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/the-only-thing-steve-jobs-has-ever-asked-me-in-all-the-years-we-ve/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“A girl likes to be asked, dumbass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/a-girl-likes-to-be-asked-dumbass/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [I've been asked to school dances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/i-ve-been-asked-to-school-dances/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [“Which to you have?' Mel asked, blocking the entry with his body. 'Talent or issues?' I paused for a moment, thought about this. 'Both,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/which-to-you-have-mel-asked-blocking-the-entry-with-his-body-talent/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“Did you find someone who makes you feel all those things?” she asked, not wanting to think of her own failed union. He locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-rossi/did-you-find-someone-who-makes-you-feel-all-those-things-she-asked/) [Mila Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-rossi/) > [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [At first, I asked, Why me? Then I thought, Why not me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/at-first-i-asked-why-me-then-i-thought-why-not-me/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) Browse all 2,259 Asked quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was performing at a New Jersey high school, and I asked a class of 2,000 students, 'How many of you love mathematics?' and only one hand went up. 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