--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Autodidacts tend to be cranks, obtuse and…" description: "\"“Autodidacts tend to be cranks, obtuse and self-enclosed. A professor’s most important role is to make you think with rigor: precisely, patiently, resp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/552/william-deresiewicz-15471_education_autodidacts-tend-to-be-cranks-obtuse-and_2784623.jpg" --- # Autodidacts tend to be cranks, obtuse and self-enclosed. A… ![“Autodidacts tend to be cranks, obtuse and self-enclosed. A professor’s most important role is to make you think with rigor: precisely, patiently, responsibly, remorselessly, and not only about your “deepest ingrained presuppositions,” as my own mentor, Karl Kroeber, once wrote, but also about your…” quote by William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/552/william-deresiewicz-15471_education_autodidacts-tend-to-be-cranks-obtuse-and_2784623.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/552/william-deresiewicz-15471_education_autodidacts-tend-to-be-cranks-obtuse-and_2784623.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/552/william-deresiewicz-15471_education_autodidacts-tend-to-be-cranks-obtuse-and_2784623.jpg) > ““Autodidacts tend to be cranks, obtuse and self-enclosed. A professor’s most important role is to make you think with rigor: precisely, patiently, responsibly, remorselessly, and not only about your “deepest ingrained presuppositions,” as my own mentor, Karl Kroeber, once wrote, but also about your “most exhilarating new insights, most of which turn out to be fallacious.”” [William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-deresiewicz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑directed learning can be erratic; rigorous mentorship teaches disciplined, responsible thinking beyond ingrained beliefs. **In simple terms:** Independent learning needs guidance for rigor. Key Takeaway Seek mentors who challenge and refine your thinking. Themes education mentorship critical thinking Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic advising - personal development - creative work - leadership Key Concepts self‑learning rigor responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How to balance mentor influence with personal insight? - What safeguards prevent echo chambers? A Different Perspective Mentors may impose their own biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachers/) ## Related quotes > [“Autodidacts have no boundaries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adorable-mind/autodidacts-have-no-boundaries/) AdOrAbLe MiNd > [Only the autodidacts are free,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/only-the-autodidacts-are-free/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [My mother was a professor of English and History.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonu-sood/my-mother-was-a-professor-of-english-and-history/) [Sonu Sood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonu-sood/) > [“Honestly, I had no idea how to respond. My senior year of college I’d taken a seminar titled Public Education: Situations and Strategies. 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