---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am what is called a professor…"
description: "\"I am what is called a professor emeritus—from the Latin e, 'out,' and meritus, 'so he ought to be.\" — Stephen Leacock"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/stephen-leacock-4891_inspirational_i-am-what-is-called-a-professor-emeritus_1763558.png"
---

#  I am what is called a professor emeritus—from the Latin e…

![“I am what is called a professor emeritus—from the Latin e, 'out,' and meritus, 'so he ought to be.” quote by Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/stephen-leacock-4891_inspirational_i-am-what-is-called-a-professor-emeritus_1763558.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/stephen-leacock-4891_inspirational_i-am-what-is-called-a-professor-emeritus_1763558.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/stephen-leacock-4891_inspirational_i-am-what-is-called-a-professor-emeritus_1763558.png)

> “I am what is called a professor emeritus—from the Latin e, 'out,' and meritus, 'so he ought to be.”

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The term 'professor emeritus' combines Latin roots meaning 'out' and 'deserved', indicating a retired yet honored status.

**In simple terms:** Emeritus means retired but honored.

Key Takeaway

Respect retired scholars for their contributions.

Themes

academia titles honor

Mood

respectful reflective

Type

educational historical

When to use this quote

- university ceremonies
- honorary titles
- career transitions

Key Concepts

Latin etymology academic tradition

Questions to Reflect On

- How can emeritus professors stay engaged?
- What value does experience bring to academia?

A Different Perspective

Retirement may feel like loss of purpose for some.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Called Professor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-professor-1713446/) [Emeritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emeritus-1713444/) [Emeritus Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emeritus-latin-1713440/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin/) [Latin Meritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin-meritus-1713448/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Professor Emeritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professor-emeritus-1713442/) [Professors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professors/) [Teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachers/)

## Related quotes

> [I have been a Professor Emeritus since 1958, and have continued my scientific studies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-von-frisch/i-have-been-a-professor-emeritus-since-1958-and-have-continued-my/)

[Karl von Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-von-frisch/)

> [ The venerable emeritus professors still at Yale when I entered graduate school \[in the 1960s\] may have been reserved, puritanical WASPs, but they were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-venerable-emeritus-professors-still-at-yale-when-i-entered/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [“Rod Cockshutt, Professor Emeritus at N.C. State University called my book, Evidence of Insanity, "an extraordinary achievement" and told me to not change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-piner/rod-cockshutt-professor-emeritus-at-n-c-state-university-called-my/)

[Carol Piner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-piner/)

> [I am no longer a curmudgeon. I am a curmudgeon emeritus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gibbons/i-am-no-longer-a-curmudgeon-i-am-a-curmudgeon-emeritus/)

[James Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gibbons/)

> [If I were founding a university I would begin with a smoking room; next a dormitory; and then a decent reading room and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/if-i-were-founding-a-university-i-would-begin-with-a-smoking-room/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [We think of the noble object for which the professor appears tonight, we may be assured that the Lord will forgive any one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/we-think-of-the-noble-object-for-which-the-professor-appears-tonight/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [I never thought about becoming a politician. But during the military dictatorship, my grandfather was put in prison six times and my father twice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/i-never-thought-about-becoming-a-politician-but-during-the-military/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [Ex-Professor Moriarty of mathematical celebrity... is the Napoleon of crime, Watson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/ex-professor-moriarty-of-mathematical-celebrity-is-the-napoleon-of/)

[Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/)

> [There is one thing a professor can be absolutely certain of: almost every student entering the university believes, or says he believes, that truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/there-is-one-thing-a-professor-can-be-absolutely-certain-of-almost/)

[Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/)

> [“Yeah, I know what your English Professor tried to tell you. But if your English Professor could make a living writing fiction, they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-wesley-smith/yeah-i-know-what-your-english-professor-tried-to-tell-you-but-if-your/)

[Dean Wesley Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-wesley-smith/)

> [I'm not a plumber who accidentally blew up or a math professor who accidentally backed into notoriety. I have a master's from Yale drama,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-richman/i-m-not-a-plumber-who-accidentally-blew-up-or-a-math-professor-who/)

[Adam Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-richman/)

> [Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/robin-williams-was-an-airman-a-doctor-a-genie-a-nanny-a-president-a/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [“Like a delicatessen owner who sells rancid meat and then blames his business failure on the vulgarization of customer taste, humanities professors account for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-saul-morson/like-a-delicatessen-owner-who-sells-rancid-meat-and-then-blames-his/)

[Gary Saul Morson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-saul-morson/)

> [Astrology is knocking at the gates of our universities: A Tübingen professor has switched over to astrology and a course on astrology was given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/astrology-is-knocking-at-the-gates-of-our-universities-a-t-bingen/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/)

[Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/)

## More by Stephen Leacock

> [My parents migrated to Canada in 1876, and I decided to go with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/my-parents-migrated-to-canada-in-1876-and-i-decided-to-go-with-them/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [You frequently ask, where are the friends of your childhood, and urge that they shall be brought back to you. As far as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/you-frequently-ask-where-are-the-friends-of-your-childhood-and-urge/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [The parent who could see his boy as he really is, would shake his head and say: 'Willie is no good; I'll sell him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/the-parent-who-could-see-his-boy-as-he-really-is-would-shake-his-head/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [It's called political economy because it is has nothing to do with either politics or economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/it-s-called-political-economy-because-it-is-has-nothing-to-do-with/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [How can you shorten the subject? That stern struggle with the multiplication table, for many people not yet ended in victory, how can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/how-can-you-shorten-the-subject-that-stern-struggle-with-the/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [A silk dress in four sections, and shoes with high heels that would have broken the heart of John Calvin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/a-silk-dress-in-four-sections-and-shoes-with-high-heels-that-would/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [Humor may be defined as the kindly contemplation of the incongruities of life, and the artistic expression thereof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/humor-may-be-defined-as-the-kindly-contemplation-of-the-incongruities/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [Chess is one long regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/chess-is-one-long-regret/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [A lone maple leaf resting on sand Have you ever been out for a late autumn walk in the closing part of the afternoon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/a-lone-maple-leaf-resting-on-sand-have-you-ever-been-out-for-a-late/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [In ancient times they had no statistics so they had to fall back on lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/in-ancient-times-they-had-no-statistics-so-they-had-to-fall-back-on/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [“Suppose a would-be writer can't begin? I really believe there are many excellent writers who have never written because they never could begin. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/suppose-a-would-be-writer-can-t-begin-i-really-believe-there-are-many/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [We think of the noble object for which the professor appears tonight, we may be assured that the Lord will forgive any one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/we-think-of-the-noble-object-for-which-the-professor-appears-tonight/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [Many a man in love with a dimple makes the mistake of marrying the whole girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/many-a-man-in-love-with-a-dimple-makes-the-mistake-of-marrying-the/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [The writing of solid, instructive stuff fortified by facts and figures is easy enough. There is no trouble in writing a scientific treatise on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/the-writing-of-solid-instructive-stuff-fortified-by-facts-and-figures/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

> [Advertising: the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/advertising-the-science-of-arresting-the-human-intelligence-long/)

[Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

[Explore all 105 Stephen Leacock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/)

## More Inspirational quotes

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/)

[Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/)

> [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/)

[Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/)

> [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/)

[Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/)

> [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/)

[Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/)

> [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/)

[Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/)

> [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

[Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I am what is called a professor emeritus—from the Latin e, 'out,' and meritus, 'so he ought to be.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stephen Leacock"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/i-am-what-is-called-a-professor-emeritus-from-the-latin-e-out-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Inspirational"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/i-am-what-is-called-a-professor-emeritus-from-the-latin-e-out-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/stephen-leacock-4891_inspirational_i-am-what-is-called-a-professor-emeritus_1763558.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/stephen-leacock-4891_inspirational_i-am-what-is-called-a-professor-emeritus_1763558.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/stephen-leacock-4891_inspirational_i-am-what-is-called-a-professor-emeritus_1763558.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I am what is called a professor emeritus—from the Latin e, 'out,' and meritus, 'so he ought to be.” — Stephen Leacock",
                "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": "Stephen Leacock",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I am what is called a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/i-am-what-is-called-a-professor-emeritus-from-the-latin-e-out-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/i-am-what-is-called-a-professor-emeritus-from-the-latin-e-out-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
