I believe that any type of education can be great, but an

Andy Andrews, storyteller and humorist, once confessed with honesty and insight: “I believe that any type of education can be great, but an education about ourselves can create something wonderful. I am a comedian, but people have called me a motivational speaker. I don't really consider myself that at all.” In these words lies a truth as old as time: that while the study of the world is valuable, the study of the self is transformative. For education in books, numbers, and sciences may open doors, but education about ourselves—our hearts, our motives, our strengths, our failings—unlocks the very essence of life.

The origin of this wisdom is rooted in Andrews’s own journey. Known for weaving humor into his messages, he discovered that laughter often carries hidden lessons, and that the stories we tell about life’s struggles often return us to ourselves. Others called him a motivational speaker because his words stirred hope and courage. Yet he insists he is no preacher of formulas—he is a man who points inward, saying: if you wish to change your world, begin by knowing yourself. For self-knowledge is the well from which all greatness flows.

This echoes the ancient wisdom of Socrates, who declared: “Know thyself.” In the bustling agora of Athens, he questioned his fellow citizens not about the stars or the seas, but about justice, virtue, and the soul. His belief was that one could not live rightly without first examining who they were. His unsettling questions made men uneasy, but they also awakened them to deeper truths. Socrates understood, as Andy Andrews reminds us, that the grandest education is not always about the world outside, but about the universe within.

History offers us countless witnesses. Consider Mahatma Gandhi, trained as a lawyer in England, educated in the laws of men. Yet it was only when he began an education of the self—asking what truth, nonviolence, and integrity demanded of him—that he found the strength to lead a nation. His external education gave him tools, but his inner education made him a force of history. Here we see Andrews’s insight proved: self-knowledge is the soil in which wonderful things grow.

The meaning of Andrews’s words also reminds us that education need not be solemn or heavy. A comedian can be a teacher, for laughter can pierce the soul as sharply as a sword. A story told in jest may awaken truth more powerfully than a lecture. By refusing the label of “motivational speaker,” Andrews humbly acknowledges that he is not prescribing greatness, but inviting people to see what already lies within themselves. His humor becomes the doorway to self-education, the path of transformation.

The lesson for us is clear: do not neglect the study of yourself. Learn the sciences, the histories, the arts, yes—but also ask: who am I? What do I believe? What are my strengths, and what weaknesses must I conquer? What wounds shape my choices, and what dreams drive my soul? In answering such questions, you uncover not only knowledge but wisdom, and from wisdom comes the power to live with clarity, purpose, and joy.

Practical steps are within reach. Keep a journal, and write not only what you learn from the world but what you discover about yourself. When you fail, do not hide from it—study it, for it is a teacher. When you succeed, ask why, so that you may understand your gifts. Surround yourself with voices that challenge you, not only with knowledge but with reflection. And above all, treat your own life as the greatest curriculum, for it is here that the deepest lessons dwell.

So let Andy Andrews’s words echo as a reminder: “An education about ourselves can create something wonderful.” Cherish this truth. Seek laughter, seek learning, but above all, seek to know yourself. For in knowing yourself, you will find both strength and peace, and you will become not merely educated, but truly wise.