--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In schools the rather stupid boys who…" description: "\"“In schools the rather stupid boys who work always do better than the clever boy who's idle, but when the clever boy works – why then, he does what you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/w-somerset-maugham-237_quote_in-schools-the-rather-stupid-boys-who-wo_1572355.jpg" --- # In schools the rather stupid boys who work always do… ![“In schools the rather stupid boys who work always do better than the clever boy who's idle, but when the clever boy works – why then, he does what you've done this term.” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/w-somerset-maugham-237_quote_in-schools-the-rather-stupid-boys-who-wo_1572355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/w-somerset-maugham-237_quote_in-schools-the-rather-stupid-boys-who-wo_1572355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/w-somerset-maugham-237_quote_in-schools-the-rather-stupid-boys-who-wo_1572355.jpg) > ““In schools the rather stupid boys who work always do better than the clever boy who's idle, but when the clever boy works – why then, he does what you've done this term.”” [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He observes that diligent but less clever students often outperform idle clever ones, yet when the clever work, they excel. **In simple terms:** Hard work beats idle cleverness; clever work excels. Key Takeaway Balance effort and intelligence. Themes effort intelligence education Mood analytical thoughtful Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - studying - teaching - career development Key Concepts meritocracy learning habits Questions to Reflect On - How to motivate both groups? - What defines true effort? A Different Perspective May oversimplify talent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Stupid boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-boys/) ## Related quotes > [Wrestling is a fraternity, and the boys will work their butts off for you as long as you respect them and don't lie. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-savage/wrestling-is-a-fraternity-and-the-boys-will-work-their-butts-off-for/) [Randy Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-savage/) > [Lifes good, even better when you're clever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lifes-good-even-better-when-you-re-clever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A person can be utterly foolish and unknowing: as long as he knows the way to adapt, to be flexible, and how to move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-walser/a-person-can-be-utterly-foolish-and-unknowing-as-long-as-he-knows-the/) [Robert Walser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-walser/) > [do you think it is better to be clever than to be good?” “Good for what?” asked the Doctor. “You are good for nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/do-you-think-it-is-better-to-be-clever-than-to-be-good-good-for-what/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [If they are just, they are better than clever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/if-they-are-just-they-are-better-than-clever/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“Run, you clever boy...and remember. Remember me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/run-you-clever-boy-and-remember-remember-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I knew he would rise high," Catelyn said. "He was always clever, even as a boy, but it is one thing to be clever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/i-knew-he-would-rise-high-catelyn-said-he-was-always-clever-even-as-a/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“He was always clever, even as a boy, but it is one thing to be clever and another to be wise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/he-was-always-clever-even-as-a-boy-but-it-is-one-thing-to-be-clever/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Was... That a "you've been a clever boy" kiss? Or... Uh...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-scarrow/was-that-a-you-ve-been-a-clever-boy-kiss-or-uh/) [Alex Scarrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-scarrow/) > [I would never believe it of you, my boy, regardless of the schemers your mother and sister turned out to be. You may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klassen/i-would-never-believe-it-of-you-my-boy-regardless-of-the-schemers/) [Julie Klassen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klassen/) > [“Stupid kissing. Stupid roaming hands. Stupid boys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-park/stupid-kissing-stupid-roaming-hands-stupid-boys/) [Jessica Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-park/) > [“Ciba: "I thought you were supposed to be some big brave war hero. What about that goddamn gold star you polish every night?" Natalya:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/ciba-i-thought-you-were-supposed-to-be-some-big-brave-war-hero-what/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [All Sincere Girls Fall In LOve With STUPID BOYS All Sincere Boys Fall In LOvE WiTH Stupid Girls. I'm Neither Stupid Nor Sincere That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/all-sincere-girls-fall-in-love-with-stupid-boys-all-sincere-boys-fall/) Azgraybebly Joslan > [All sincere boys fall in love with stupid girls, all sincere girls fall in love with stupid boys, I am neither stupid nor sincere,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/all-sincere-boys-fall-in-love-with-stupid-girls-all-sincere-girls/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“John, let me make one thing clear,” Jim said, cutting me off in his most stern, evangelical voice. “Every man is blessed with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/john-let-me-make-one-thing-clear-jim-said-cutting-me-off-in-his-most/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) ## More by W. Somerset Maugham > [“A man thinks it quite natural that he should fall out of love with a woman, but it never strikes him for a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-thinks-it-quite-natural-that-he-should-fall-out-of-love-with-a/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“A man's work reveals him. In social intercourse he gives you the surface that he wishes the world to accept, but in his book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-s-work-reveals-him-in-social-intercourse-he-gives-you-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/love-is-only-a-dirty-trick-played-on-us-to-achieve-continuation-of/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [The world is hard and cruel. We are here none knows why, and we go none knows whither. We must be very humble. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-world-is-hard-and-cruel-we-are-here-none-knows-why-and-we-go-none/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“There is no more merit in having read a thousand books than in having ploughed a thousand fields.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/there-is-no-more-merit-in-having-read-a-thousand-books-than-in-having/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“I wanted to live again and again. I was willing to accept every sort of life, no matter what its pain and sorrow; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-wanted-to-live-again-and-again-i-was-willing-to-accept-every-sort/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [In Hollywood, the women are all peaches. It makes one long for an apple occasionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/in-hollywood-the-women-are-all-peaches-it-makes-one-long-for-an-apple/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Follow your inclinations with due regard to the policeman round the corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/follow-your-inclinations-with-due-regard-to-the-policeman-round-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“His love became a prison from which he longed to escape, but he had not the strength merely to open the door-that was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/his-love-became-a-prison-from-which-he-longed-to-escape-but-he-had/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I did not believe him capable of love. That is an emotion in which tenderness is an essential part, but Strickland had no tenderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-did-not-believe-him-capable-of-love-that-is-an-emotion-in-which/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [If only the good were a little less heavy-footed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/if-only-the-good-were-a-little-less-heavy-footed/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Perfection has one grave defect: it is apt to be dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/perfection-has-one-grave-defect-it-is-apt-to-be-dull/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“A God that can be understood is no God. Who can explain the Infinite in words?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-god-that-can-be-understood-is-no-god-who-can-explain-the-infinite/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“My dear, you used to be quite a dish; now you're quite a tureen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/my-dear-you-used-to-be-quite-a-dish-now-you-re-quite-a-tureen/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“When people say they do not care what others thing of them, for the most part they deceive themselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/when-people-say-they-do-not-care-what-others-thing-of-them-for-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) [Explore all 840 W. Somerset Maugham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## More Stupid boys quotes > [“John, let me make one thing clear,” Jim said, cutting me off in his most stern, evangelical voice. “Every man is blessed with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/john-let-me-make-one-thing-clear-jim-said-cutting-me-off-in-his-most/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [All sincere boys fall in love with stupid girls, all sincere girls fall in love with stupid boys, I am neither stupid nor sincere,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/all-sincere-boys-fall-in-love-with-stupid-girls-all-sincere-girls/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [All Sincere Girls Fall In LOve With STUPID BOYS All Sincere Boys Fall In LOvE WiTH Stupid Girls. I'm Neither Stupid Nor Sincere That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/all-sincere-girls-fall-in-love-with-stupid-boys-all-sincere-boys-fall/) Azgraybebly Joslan > [“Ciba: "I thought you were supposed to be some big brave war hero. What about that goddamn gold star you polish every night?" Natalya:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/ciba-i-thought-you-were-supposed-to-be-some-big-brave-war-hero-what/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [“Stupid kissing. Stupid roaming hands. Stupid boys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-park/stupid-kissing-stupid-roaming-hands-stupid-boys/) [Jessica Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-park/) > [I will never understand why boys hurt the only girl who truly cares about them. But if they're okay with hurting you, you better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lifeofyourparty/i-will-never-understand-why-boys-hurt-the-only-girl-who-truly-cares/) [LifeOfYourParty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lifeofyourparty/) > [I know I deserve better but these stupid boys have some hold on me.. It's sad but true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-i-deserve-better-but-these-stupid-boys-have-some-hold-on-me-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Because isn’t that what eternity is? It’s your own high school. Where the good girls are always good, the stupid boys are always stupid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-crockett-and-madelyn-rosenberg/because-isn-t-that-what-eternity-is-it-s-your-own-high-school-where/) Mary Crockett and Madelyn Rosenberg > [“Boys are stupid. That's all there is to it. Boys are just stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-jones/boys-are-stupid-that-s-all-there-is-to-it-boys-are-just-stupid/) [Carrie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-jones/) > [You say money over bitches but hunny, you get neither!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-rachel-mia-salvia/you-say-money-over-bitches-but-hunny-you-get-neither/) Sasha Rachel Mia Salvia [Browse all 11 Stupid boys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-boys/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In schools the rather stupid boys who work always do better than the clever boy who's idle, but when the clever boy works – why then, he does what you've done this term.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W. Somerset Maugham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/in-schools-the-rather-stupid-boys-who-work-always-do-better-than-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Stupid boys" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/in-schools-the-rather-stupid-boys-who-work-always-do-better-than-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/w-somerset-maugham-237_quote_in-schools-the-rather-stupid-boys-who-wo_1572355.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/w-somerset-maugham-237_quote_in-schools-the-rather-stupid-boys-who-wo_1572355.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/w-somerset-maugham-237_quote_in-schools-the-rather-stupid-boys-who-wo_1572355.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In schools the rather stupid boys who work always do better than the clever boy who's idle, but when the…” — W. Somerset Maugham", "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": "W. Somerset Maugham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In schools the rather stupid boys...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/in-schools-the-rather-stupid-boys-who-work-always-do-better-than-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/in-schools-the-rather-stupid-boys-who-work-always-do-better-than-the/#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 } } ] } ```