--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The illiterate of the 21st century will…" description: "\"“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. – Alvin Toffler (192..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/idris-mootee-78198_books_the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-will_349324.jpg" --- # The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who… ![“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. – Alvin Toffler (1928–)” quote by Swami Achuthananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/idris-mootee-78198_books_the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-will_349324.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/idris-mootee-78198_books_the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-will_349324.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/idris-mootee-78198_books_the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-will_349324.jpg) > ““The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. – Alvin Toffler (1928–)”” Swami Achuthananda ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Future illiteracy is inability to learn, unlearn, and relearn, not just reading/writing. **In simple terms:** True illiteracy is failing to adapt learning. Key Takeaway Cultivate continuous learning habits. Themes learning adaptability literacy change growth Mood inspirational thoughtful urgent Type Books:0 Illiterate:1 Relearn:1 Alvin Toffler:0 Read And Write:0 Write Learn:0 Illiterate 21St:0 Relearn Alvin:0 When to use this quote - career development - skill training - personal reinvention - academic pursuits Key Concepts education psychology technology Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster lifelong learning? - What obstacles hinder unlearning? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex societal issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Read And Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-and-write/) [Relearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relearn/) ## Related quotes > [“The illiterate of the 21st Century are not those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-toffler/the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-are-not-those-who-cannot-read-and/) [Alvin Toffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-toffler/) > [The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-toffler/the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-will-not-be-those-who-cannot-read-2/) [Alvin Toffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-toffler/) > [“You’ve got to think about the big things while you’re doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/you-ve-got-to-think-about-the-big-things-while-you-re-doing-small/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [I lost the power to write and I had to sort of relearn how to read and write to a certain extent and speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-lost-the-power-to-write-and-i-had-to-sort-of-relearn-how-to-read/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [“I count myself one of the number of those who write as they learn and learn as they write.” Augustine/John Calvin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine/i-count-myself-one-of-the-number-of-those-who-write-as-they-learn-and-2/) [Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine/) > [“One cannot be taught to write. One can only learn to write by writing—and reading. Reading good books written by real artists—until you understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/one-cannot-be-taught-to-write-one-can-only-learn-to-write-by-writing/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“I write that I will learn a language and take up the piano. Margaret can teach me. This might help her get back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-hyland/i-write-that-i-will-learn-a-language-and-take-up-the-piano-margaret/) M.J. Hyland > [With each book you write you have to learn how to write that book - so every time, you have to start all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/with-each-book-you-write-you-have-to-learn-how-to-write-that-book-so/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [Writing a novel is always complicated, it's not like you snap your fingers and go, 'Ah, I know what I'll write'. For me, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reif-larsen/writing-a-novel-is-always-complicated-it-s-not-like-you-snap-your/) [Reif Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reif-larsen/) > [“I count myself as one of the number of those who learn as they write and write as they learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/i-count-myself-as-one-of-the-number-of-those-who-learn-as-they-write/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [There is no such thing as writer's block. There is only not enough information. If you can't write, learn something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/there-is-no-such-thing-as-writer-s-block-there-is-only-not-enough/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [I want to tell the children of Kashmir that they should read, write, and learn and come to the mainstream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/i-want-to-tell-the-children-of-kashmir-that-they-should-read-write/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [We're not just writers; we're readers probably more than anything else. That's how you learn how to write and how you learn to appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/we-re-not-just-writers-we-re-readers-probably-more-than-anything-else/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I count myself one of the number of those who write as they learn and learn as they write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/i-count-myself-one-of-the-number-of-those-who-write-as-they-learn-and/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [“The more I write the more I learn about writing. It is easy to say what looks good or sound good on paper until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-michelle/the-more-i-write-the-more-i-learn-about-writing-it-is-easy-to-say/) Jeanette Michelle ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. – Alvin Toffler (1928–)”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Swami Achuthananda" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-achuthananda/the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-will-not-be-those-who-cannot-read/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-achuthananda/the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-will-not-be-those-who-cannot-read/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/idris-mootee-78198_books_the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-will_349324.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/idris-mootee-78198_books_the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-will_349324.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/idris-mootee-78198_books_the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-will_349324.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn…” — Swami Achuthananda", "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": "Swami Achuthananda", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-achuthananda/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The illiterate of the 21st century...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-achuthananda/the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-will-not-be-those-who-cannot-read/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-achuthananda/the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-will-not-be-those-who-cannot-read/#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 } } ] } ```