---
title: "I didn't go to university. Didn't even finish A-levels. But I have sy… — Terry Pratchett Quote #34 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "I didn't go to university. Didn't even finish A-levels. But I have sympathy for those who did. — a quote by Terry Pratchett."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # I didn't go to university. Didn't even finish A-levels. But I have sympathy for those who did.

[Terry Pratchett](https://quotesby.net/Terry-Pratchett)\#34

[Career](https://quotesby.net/topics/career/)[Education](https://quotesby.net/topics/education/)[Experience](https://quotesby.net/topics/experience/)[School](https://quotesby.net/topics/school/)[Success](https://quotesby.net/topics/success/)[Sympathy](https://quotesby.net/topics/sympathy/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?Despite lacking formal education, the author expresses sympathy for those who pursued it.In plain termsI didn't finish school, but I respect those who did.What can you take from it?Empathy exists regardless of personal educational background.

### Where it applies

- career discussions
- school settings
- personal storytelling

### Putting it to work

- value different paths to success
- show respect for education

### Questions to consider

- What value do you place on formal education?
- Can you respect paths you didn't take?

### Another view

Sympathy does not imply agreement with all aspects of formal education.

## More from Terry Pratchett

1. > In Reading \[England\] there is this thing called the IDR, short for 'Inner Distribution Road', which is bureaucratese for 'Big thing that cost a lot of money an…

[Permalink to quote \#33](https://quotesby.net/Terry-Pratchett/33/ "Permalink to quote 33")
2. > 'Out of Print' is bookseller speak for 'We can't be hedgehogged'.

[Permalink to quote \#35](https://quotesby.net/Terry-Pratchett/35/ "Permalink to quote 35")
3. > I staggered into a Manchester bar late one night on a tour and the waitress said 'You look as if you need a Screaming Orgasm'. At the time this was the last th…

[Permalink to quote \#32](https://quotesby.net/Terry-Pratchett/32/ "Permalink to quote 32")

## Related quotes

1. > I probably hold the distinction of being one movie star who, by all laws of logic, should never have made it. At each stage of my career, I lacked the experien…

[Audrey Hepburn](https://quotesby.net/Audrey-Hepburn)[Audrey Hepburn quote \#11](https://quotesby.net/Audrey-Hepburn/11/ "Permalink to quote 11")
2. > Well, I think every film student goes into film school thinking they want to write and direct their own movies, and they don't realize how much goes into it, a…

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3. > I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did!

[Yogi Berra](https://quotesby.net/Yogi-Berra)[Yogi Berra quote \#14](https://quotesby.net/Yogi-Berra/14/ "Permalink to quote 14")

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