--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Algebra looked like Chinese characters to…" description: "\"Algebra looked like Chinese characters to me, and I could never get into reading Shakespeare. I just did not get it.\" — Tommy Hilfiger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/tommy-hilfiger-10326_algebra_algebra-looked-like-chinese-characters-t_2037538.png" --- # Algebra looked like Chinese characters to me, and I could… ![“Algebra looked like Chinese characters to me, and I could never get into reading Shakespeare. I just did not get it.” quote by Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/tommy-hilfiger-10326_algebra_algebra-looked-like-chinese-characters-t_2037538.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/tommy-hilfiger-10326_algebra_algebra-looked-like-chinese-characters-t_2037538.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/tommy-hilfiger-10326_algebra_algebra-looked-like-chinese-characters-t_2037538.png) > “Algebra looked like Chinese characters to me, and I could never get into reading Shakespeare. I just did not get it.” [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Complex subjects can feel alien, leading to disengagement if not approached differently. **In simple terms:** Hard topics may seem incomprehensible. Key Takeaway Find relatable entry points. Themes education communication accessibility Mood thoughtful encouraging Type advice reflective When to use this quote - school curricula - self‑study - language learning Key Concepts cognitive barriers literacy motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can you make a tough subject approachable? - What analogies help you understand complex ideas? A Different Perspective Assuming difficulty is permanent can limit effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Algebra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/algebra/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-shakespeare/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) ## Related quotes > [Relationships are a lot like algebra... Ever looked at your X and wondered Y?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anas/relationships-are-a-lot-like-algebra-ever-looked-at-your-x-and/) [Anas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anas/) > [Relationships are a lot like Algebra. Have you ever looked at your X and wondered Y?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlet-kim/relationships-are-a-lot-like-algebra-have-you-ever-looked-at-your-x/) [Scarlet Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlet-kim/) > [When I was in fifth grade, there were many girls who were good at math, but when I was in junior high school, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-love-cohen/when-i-was-in-fifth-grade-there-were-many-girls-who-were-good-at-math/) [Judith Love Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-love-cohen/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Shakespeare is just some bloke who keeps ranting "what light trough yonder window breaks" its the moon for god sakes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-rennison/shakespeare-is-just-some-bloke-who-keeps-ranting-what-light-trough/) [Louise Rennison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-rennison/) > [But in reading Shakespeare and in reading about Edward de Vere, it's quite apparent that when you read these works that whoever penned this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-ifans/but-in-reading-shakespeare-and-in-reading-about-edward-de-vere-it-s/) [Rhys Ifans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-ifans/) > [Reading Shakespeare is sometimes like looking through a window into a dark room. You don't see in. You see nothing but a reflection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-sher/reading-shakespeare-is-sometimes-like-looking-through-a-window-into-a/) [Antony Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-sher/) > [I've never really had a desire to do Shakespeare. For me, it's just too many lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-craig/i-ve-never-really-had-a-desire-to-do-shakespeare-for-me-it-s-just-too/) [Daniel Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-craig/) > [When I was in junior high, I would carry around this huge volume of Shakespeare. I just like the romantic vibe. I write about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fefe-dobson/when-i-was-in-junior-high-i-would-carry-around-this-huge-volume-of/) [Fefe Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fefe-dobson/) > [Shakespeare is one of the reasons I've stayed an actor. Sometimes I spend full days doing Shakespeare by myself, just for the joy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/shakespeare-is-one-of-the-reasons-i-ve-stayed-an-actor-sometimes-i/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [Well, as a kid I did not get Shakespeare. I just never understood it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/well-as-a-kid-i-did-not-get-shakespeare-i-just-never-understood-it/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I suppose half the time Shakespeare just shoved down anything that came into his head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse-2/i-suppose-half-the-time-shakespeare-just-shoved-down-anything-that/) [P. G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse-2/) > [I never wanted to become an actress because I'd read great literature or seen great Shakespeare. It was more just wanting to understand what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/i-never-wanted-to-become-an-actress-because-i-d-read-great-literature/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Why are we reading a Shakespeare play or 'Huckleberry Finn?' Well, because these works are great, but they also tell us something about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/why-are-we-reading-a-shakespeare-play-or-huckleberry-finn-well/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [To see him act is like reading Shakespeare by flashes of lightning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/to-see-him-act-is-like-reading-shakespeare-by-flashes-of-lightning/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## More by Tommy Hilfiger > [I don't think generally speaking, there are a lot of innovators and inventors. Many of the designers take what exists already and update it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/i-don-t-think-generally-speaking-there-are-a-lot-of-innovators-and/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [Off the court, I tend to stick to the classics, but I like to have fun with color and accessories. I'm from Spain, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/off-the-court-i-tend-to-stick-to-the-classics-but-i-like-to-have-fun/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [I consider myself to be respectful, and I believe this is a main value for sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/i-consider-myself-to-be-respectful-and-i-believe-this-is-a-main-value/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [When I am in London, I think my favourite city is London, but when I am in New York, I feel it is New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/when-i-am-in-london-i-think-my-favourite-city-is-london-but-when-i-am/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [Consumers around the world always want something unexpected and exciting, and that's what drives me. I love the challenge of reinterpreting my designs in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/consumers-around-the-world-always-want-something-unexpected-and/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [I currently live in the Plaza in New York and I love it - all that history, all those interesting stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/i-currently-live-in-the-plaza-in-new-york-and-i-love-it-all-that/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [I had eight brothers and sisters. Every Christmas my younger brother Bobby would wake up extra early and open everybody's presents - everybody's -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/i-had-eight-brothers-and-sisters-every-christmas-my-younger-brother/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [Trying too hard to follow every trend. You want to look fashionable and put-together, not like you hit every sale rack this season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/trying-too-hard-to-follow-every-trend-you-want-to-look-fashionable/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [I think preppy stands for optimism, confidence, energy and authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/i-think-preppy-stands-for-optimism-confidence-energy-and-authenticity/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [No one is an inventor in the fashion business. Designers recreate fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/no-one-is-an-inventor-in-the-fashion-business-designers-recreate/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [I think it is really important to have a sense of business. As a designer you can get so wrapped up in the design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/i-think-it-is-really-important-to-have-a-sense-of-business-as-a/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [Winning a trophy is always nice, but my personal satisfaction comes from reflecting on the passion, motivation, and determination that went into getting me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/winning-a-trophy-is-always-nice-but-my-personal-satisfaction-comes/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [We are going back to our roots by cultivating new unsigned talent who otherwise might go unnoticed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/we-are-going-back-to-our-roots-by-cultivating-new-unsigned-talent-who/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [Always stay focused. Always give and try your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/always-stay-focused-always-give-and-try-your-best/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [Our look and image never change dramatically from one season to the next, so we need an edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/our-look-and-image-never-change-dramatically-from-one-season-to-the/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) [Explore all 66 Tommy Hilfiger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) ## More Algebra quotes > [“Who cares for Algebra? Who delights in solving math? I only want to live my life Along the creative path.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/who-cares-for-algebra-who-delights-in-solving-math-i-only-want-to/) [Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/) > [I write emotional algebra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-write-emotional-algebra/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [...the science of calculation also is indispensable as far as the extraction of the square and cube roots: Algebra as far as the quadratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-science-of-calculation-also-is-indispensable-as-far-as-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Great people create great acts of kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/great-people-create-great-acts-of-kindness/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Algebra applies to the clouds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/algebra-applies-to-the-clouds/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ \[On refusing to do nude movie scenes:\] There are certain people who should know what you look like naked. I just don't think your… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/on-refusing-to-do-nude-movie-scenes-there-are-certain-people-who/) [Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/) > [Hmm. I'm still not very good at algebra. I just can't figure out Y.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hmm-i-m-still-not-very-good-at-algebra-i-just-can-t-figure-out-y/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Astronomy, that micography of heaven, is the most magnificent of the sciences. ... Astronomy has its clear side and its luminous side; on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/astronomy-that-micography-of-heaven-is-the-most-magnificent-of-the/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [No one fully understands spinors. Their algebra is formally understood but their general significance is mysterious. In some sense they describe the 'square root'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atiyah/no-one-fully-understands-spinors-their-algebra-is-formally-understood/) [Michael Atiyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-atiyah/) > [Cryptography has generated number theory, algebraic geometry over finite fields, algebra, combinatorics and computers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-arnold/cryptography-has-generated-number-theory-algebraic-geometry-over/) [Vladimir Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-arnold/) > [There's nothing in your life you can't learn from, if you respond with the right attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/there-s-nothing-in-your-life-you-can-t-learn-from-if-you-respond-with/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [ALGEBRA is a general Method of Computation by certain Signs and Symbols which have been contrived for this Purpose, and found convenient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-maclaurin/algebra-is-a-general-method-of-computation-by-certain-signs-and/) Colin Maclaurin > [A child in the 4th grade who's just learning algebra is not imperfect. While there may be a child in the 12th grade who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-child-in-the-4th-grade-who-s-just-learning-algebra-is-not-imperfect/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [When I was at school, I was terrible at algebra and arithmetic, but I was always the best at English and literature. And acting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/when-i-was-at-school-i-was-terrible-at-algebra-and-arithmetic-but-i/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [Algebra goes to the heart of the matter at it ignores the casual nature of particular cases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-charles-titchmarsh/algebra-goes-to-the-heart-of-the-matter-at-it-ignores-the-casual/) [Edward Charles Titchmarsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-charles-titchmarsh/) [Browse all 235 Algebra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/algebra/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Algebra looked like Chinese characters to me, and I could never get into reading Shakespeare. 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