Bo Bennett once said, “when it comes to success, there are no shortcuts.” Education requires you to put in a lot of effort, whether you’re sitting in a classroom, taking an online course, or undergoing a work training program.
Yet, effort isn’t the only factor that counts towards success in education. You also need to:
- Believe in yourself
- Have an open mind
- Persevere through failure
- Have an honest desire to learn
- Be actively involved in your learning
For education to be meaningful, it needs to help you develop in-depth knowledge, a sense of responsibility, and a connection to the wider community. It also needs to help you put your creativity and talent to good use.
But, even with the most helpful tips to help you succeed, we all know how hard education can be. The most important thing to remember, though, is that you don’t have to do it alone.
Everyone needs inspiration once in a while, so we’ve compiled 5 education quotes from influential figures to give you the edge you need to create your success.
1: “The Purpose of Education Is to Make Minds, Not Careers” – William Deresiewicz
Ask any student why they learn and their answer will most likely be, “to get a job” or, “to make a lot of money.” However, the goal of education is not always to have a career.
You can learn with the goal to improve your creativity or shape your mindset. Education is multi-faceted, and success can be defined in many terms.
See three types of education in the table below:
| Type of Education | Description | Examples |
| Formal education | Institution-based and built on a set curriculum | University degree, online courses |
| Informal education | Falls outside academics and can include extracurricular activities and life skills | After school programs, home education |
| Non-formal education | Semi-structured and teaches specific skills | Swimming lessons, driving lessons |
With these three types of education, you can grow psychologically, physiologically, and emotionally. After all, the primary purpose of education is to help human beings develop in a holistic manner.
Focusing only on career-building formal education can make some learners feel overwhelmed and unsuccessful before they even set foot out of the classroom.
Success is more than just high grades; it’s also about honing your talents and your ability to lead a healthy life, and maturing into a better decision-maker and a responsible human being.
This quote reminds you that it’s possible to redefine the meaning of success and celebrate the small wins along the way.
2: “Once You Learn to Read You Will Be Free Forever” – Fredrick Douglass
There’s nothing more inspiring than freedom, and education is the key that opens the door to freedom.
Fredrick Douglass was able to improve his knowledge and free himself (and many others) from slavery through the power of reading. His story shows that education can foster a learner’s personal development and independence.
With a good education, nobody can take advantage of you because you’ll know what’s going on in the world, and you’ll be able to:
- Build a wide vocabulary and be a better communicator
- Gain confidence in your ability to express yourself
- Make informed decisions for your sake and for the sake of others
The more knowledge you acquire, the more you unlock the shackles of ignorance and stagnation.
3: “The Roots of Education Are Bitter, but the Fruit Is Sweet” – Aristotle
You’ll find that as students begin learning, they often don’t mind taking classes as they see it as a welcome change of environment. With time, however, they become fatigued from the routine and consequently lose all interest in education.
In this quote, Aristotle says that education is a prolonged endeavor that can be hard to get through. Structured academic education, in particular, may put you through situations where you have to:
- Store a lot of information at once
- Get out of your comfort zone
- Contradict what you perceive to be true
However, it’s all worth it in the end. Education enriches your life by exposing you to deeper knowledge and more opportunities to grow your skills.
4: “Education Is the Passport to the Future, for Tomorrow Belongs to Those Who Prepare for It Today” – Malcolm X
It’s easier to keep going when you understand the bigger picture in education. It’s not just about finishing your Skillshare online course. Education can give you exposure to:
- More cultures and traditions so you relate to people in a better way
- Knowledge and skills that make you stand out from the competition
- A meaningful social experience where you can develop long-term friendships
- Situations where you can develop confidence and better communication skills
The world isn’t made up of just numbers and certifications. It’s made up of real people who have different perspectives, and education gives you a chance to interact with these people and find your place in the world.
5: “The Object of Education Is Not to Fill a Man’s Mind With Facts; It Is to Teach Him How to Use His Mind in Thinking” – Henry Ford
Do you know what the value of education is?
It’s sad that a lot of learners today simply accumulate information for the sake of its accumulation, but Henry Ford argues that there’s no real value in that.
Although it’s essential to give the right answers in your tests, that’s not all there is to education. In the age of Google, it’s becoming increasingly irrelevant to accumulate trivia-like knowledge, so you have to learn to think on your feet.
Education teaches you how to be a lifelong learner who can apply your knowledge to create a better life for yourself and others.
The world will present you with a lot of gray options, and education will help to improve your ability to handle them, rather than look for quick answers to questions that are far removed from the problem.
Success Is Around the Corner
As you learn and grow your mind, it’s important to remember that success in education is not just about accumulating information—you also need to apply the knowledge you learn to your life.
The ability to read, write, and analyze; the confidence to stand up and demand justice and equality; the qualifications and connections to get your foot in the door and take your seat at the table—all of that starts with education.
Michelle Obama
Education can help you succeed in so many different ways. It opens up your mind so you can think for yourself, have better interactions with people, and be a valuable part of your community.
Get started with online courses from Small Revolution, today.
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