--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't know shorthand either. This…" description: "\"I didn't know shorthand either. This meant I couldn't get a good job after college. My mother kept telling me nobody wanted a plain English major. But ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/sylvia-plath-149_adventure_i-didn-t-know-shorthand-either-this-mean_2985818.jpg" --- # I didn't know shorthand either. This meant I couldn't get… ![“I didn't know shorthand either. This meant I couldn't get a good job after college. My mother kept telling me nobody wanted a plain English major. But an English major who knew shorthand would be something else again. Everybody would want her. She would be in demand among all the up-and-coming…” quote by Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/sylvia-plath-149_adventure_i-didn-t-know-shorthand-either-this-mean_2985818.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/sylvia-plath-149_adventure_i-didn-t-know-shorthand-either-this-mean_2985818.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/sylvia-plath-149_adventure_i-didn-t-know-shorthand-either-this-mean_2985818.jpg) > “I didn't know shorthand either. This meant I couldn't get a good job after college. My mother kept telling me nobody wanted a plain English major. But an English major who knew shorthand would be something else again. Everybody would want her. She would be in demand among all the up-and-coming young men and she would transcribe letter after thrilling letter. The trouble was, I hated the idea of serving men in any way. I wanted to dictate my own thrilling letters.” [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker laments lacking a practical skill (shorthand) that could improve job prospects, yet resists traditional gendered roles, preferring creative autonomy. **In simple terms:** Lack of a marketable skill limits jobs, but personal values matter. Key Takeaway Balance skill acquisition with personal integrity. Themes career gender roles skill acquisition creativity autonomy Mood reflective determined hopeful Type advice personal narrative feminist commentary When to use this quote - job hunting - college career planning - women’s workforce entry - creative writing pursuits Key Concepts feminist critique labor market self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - What skills could you learn that align with your values? - How do societal expectations shape your career choices? A Different Perspective Skill alone may not guarantee fulfillment if it conflicts with personal ethics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [English major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-major/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Plain english](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plain-english/) [Shorthand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shorthand/) [Young men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-men/) ## Related quotes > [I decided I would put off the novel until I had gone to Europe and had a lover, and that I would never learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-decided-i-would-put-off-the-novel-until-i-had-gone-to-europe-and-2/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“I decided I would put off the novel until I had gone to Europe and had a lover, and that I would never learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-decided-i-would-put-off-the-novel-until-i-had-gone-to-europe-and/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [What does purpose mean? It means the deepest desire for our short lives to mean something. . . . To speak a language of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liu/what-does-purpose-mean-it-means-the-deepest-desire-for-our-short/) [Eric Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liu/) > [A word about 'plain English.' The phrase certainly shouldn't connote drab and dreary language. Actually, plain English is typically quite interesting to read. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-a-garner/a-word-about-plain-english-the-phrase-certainly-shouldn-t-connote/) Bryan A. Garner > [What Women's Lib might achieve if their 'consciousness raising' - or in plain English, brainwashing- campaign succeeds is a society whose members have identical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/what-women-s-lib-might-achieve-if-their-consciousness-raising-or-in/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [Yes, that man acted ugly," she told us in plain English. "But throwing more ugliness back at him ain't the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/yes-that-man-acted-ugly-she-told-us-in-plain-english-but-throwing/) [Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/) > [Mathematical knowledge is not-as all Cambridge men are surely aware-the result of any special gift. It is merely the development of those conceptions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/mathematical-knowledge-is-not-as-all-cambridge-men-are-surely-aware/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [A passage is not plain English - still less is it good English - if we are obliged to read it twice to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/a-passage-is-not-plain-english-still-less-is-it-good-english-if-we/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [It is no exaggeration to describe plain English as a fundamental tool of government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/it-is-no-exaggeration-to-describe-plain-english-as-a-fundamental-tool/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Men of Science would do well to talk plain English. The most abstruse questions can very well be discussed in our own tongue ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-lodge/men-of-science-would-do-well-to-talk-plain-english-the-most-abstruse/) [Oliver Lodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-lodge/) > [Communists, socialists and fascists everywhere, from Mr. Obama upward, have taken to the global warming cause like a quack to colored water. Just about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-monckton-3rd-viscount-monckton-of-brenchley/communists-socialists-and-fascists-everywhere-from-mr-obama-upward/) [Christopher Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-monckton-3rd-viscount-monckton-of-brenchley/) > [“The notion that commercial contracts should be written in plain English so as to be understood by people who would never be expected to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-fox/the-notion-that-commercial-contracts-should-be-written-in-plain/) [Charles M. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-fox/) > [The Constitution isn't written in Chinese, Swahili or Sanskrit. It's in plain English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-constitution-isn-t-written-in-chinese-swahili-or-sanskrit-it-s-in/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [This book is intended for use in English courses in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature. It aims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-book-is-intended-for-use-in-english-courses-in-which-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Be that as it may, we do need you in particular to complete this assignment. (Syd) What is it with you government assholes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/be-that-as-it-may-we-do-need-you-in-particular-to-complete-this/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) ## More by Sylvia Plath > [“It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/it-was-a-queer-sultry-summer-the-summer-they-electrocuted-the/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I love life. But it is hard and I have so much, so very much to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-love-life-but-it-is-hard-and-i-have-so-much-so-very-much-to-learn/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [... These are my hands My knees. I may be skin and bone, Nevertheless, I am the same, identical woman. ... --Lady Lazarus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/these-are-my-hands-my-knees-i-may-be-skin-and-bone-nevertheless-i-am/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Sure, I’m dramatic and sloppily semi-cynical and semi-sentimental. But, in leisure years I could grow and choose my way. Now I am living on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/sure-i-m-dramatic-and-sloppily-semi-cynical-and-semi-sentimental-but/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“People were made of nothing so much as dust, and I couldn't see that doctoring all that dust was a bit better than writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/people-were-made-of-nothing-so-much-as-dust-and-i-couldn-t-see-that/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“I couldn't stand the idea of a woman having to have a single pure life and a man being able to have a double…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-couldn-t-stand-the-idea-of-a-woman-having-to-have-a-single-pure/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I saw the gooseflesh on my skin. I did not know what made it. I was not cold. Had a ghost passed over? No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-saw-the-gooseflesh-on-my-skin-i-did-not-know-what-made-it-i-was-not/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I have to live my life, and it is the only one I’ll ever have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-have-to-live-my-life-and-it-is-the-only-one-i-ll-ever-have/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“The city had faded my tan, though. I looked yellow as a Chinaman. Ordinarily, I would have been nervous about my dress and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/the-city-had-faded-my-tan-though-i-looked-yellow-as-a-chinaman/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Joy:show joy & enjoy: then others will be joyful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/joy-show-joy-enjoy-then-others-will-be-joyful/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [A million years of evolution, Eric said bitterly, and what are we? Animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/a-million-years-of-evolution-eric-said-bitterly-and-what-are-we/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“I have stitched life into me like a rare organ --from "Three Women: A Poem for Three Voices", written 1962”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-have-stitched-life-into-me-like-a-rare-organ-from-three-women-a/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [It is so much safer not to feel, not to let the world touch me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/it-is-so-much-safer-not-to-feel-not-to-let-the-world-touch-me/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“Flute Notes from a Reedy Pond" Now coldness comes sifting down, layer after layer, To our bower at the lily root. Overhead the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/flute-notes-from-a-reedy-pond-now-coldness-comes-sifting-down-layer/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“The most saddening thing is to admit that I am not in love. I can only love (if that means self denial - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/the-most-saddening-thing-is-to-admit-that-i-am-not-in-love-i-can-only/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) [Explore all 1,098 Sylvia Plath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. 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In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) Kevin McLeod > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. 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