In order to be eligible to play it was necessary for him to keep up in his studies, a very difficult matter, for while he was not dumber than an ox he was not any smarter.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Thurber humorously describes a student who is average intelligence struggling with academic requirements.
- In plain terms
- He was not very smart, so keeping up with studies was hard.
- What can you take from it?
- Average intelligence makes academic compliance difficult.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What defines intelligence?
- Should school be harder?
Another view
It relies on a negative stereotype of intelligence.
More from James Thurber
Her own mother lived the latter years of her life in the horrible suspicion that electricity was dripping invisibly all over the house.
Permalink to quote #32 I do not have a psychiatrist and I do not want one, for the simple reason that if he listened to me long enough, he might become disturbed.
Permalink to quote #34 If I have sometimes seemed to make fun of Woman, I assure you it has only been for the purpose of egging her on.
Permalink to quote #31
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