"Those who can, do. Those who can't.. teach!"

[Imagine]

What is the meaning of that statement? I google'd around a bit, but couldn't make any sense of it. After reading a page about the Irish government and that statement, I gave up. Is this just 'another knock on our school teachers'? Or does it mean something else, like a saw on a page. Stupid thing never said WHAT it meant though! Cheers, Dave

[bluedolphin]

I think Max Groenig???wrote a list of jobs that start with the above lines...it goes on to list other occupations in a descending fashion regarding prerequisite skill.....

[bluedolphin]

Imagine...not sure about the Max Groenig attribution now but here is what I was talking about previously... Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach, counsel. those who can't counsel, administrate. Those who can't administrate, enter data into the computer. Those who can't enter data into the computer, take dictation. Those who can't take dictation, alphabetize files. Those who can't alphabetize files, answer the phone. Those who can't answer the phone, fry hamburgers. Those who can't fry hamburgers, run the cash register. Those who can't run the cash register, wait on tables. Those who can't wait on tables, carry dirty dishes to the kitchen. Those who can't carry dirty dishes to the kitchen, wash the dirty dishes. Those who can't wash dirty dishes, peel potatoes. Those who can't peel potatoes, buff the floor. Those who can't buff the floor, haul out the garbage. Those who can't haul out the garbage, write poetry. Those who can't write poetry, write clever letters to the editor. Those who can't write clever letters to the editor, write angry letters to the editor. Those who can't write angry letters to the editor, spraypaint graffiti. Those who can't spraypaint graffiti, write screenplays. Those who can't write screenplays, write TV scripts. Those who can't write TV scripts, read scripts for the studios. Those who can't read scripts for the studios, act. Those who can't act, take acting classes. Those who can't take acting classes, sing. Those who can't sing, sing Rock'N'Roll. Those who can't sing Rock'N'Roll, sing it anyway. Those who can't sing it anyway, become depressed. Those who can't become depressed, get bitter. Those who can't get bitter, get confused. Those who can't get confused, stay confused. Those who stay confused, find it difficult to complete unfinished sentences. Those who find it difficult to complete unfinished sentences, _____________.

[Jules001]

actually the quote is attributed to G.B. Shaw, but I don't know in what context so can't help with the meaning sorry:(

[stoo_pid]

My teacher friends occasionally take the mick out of a colleague of theirs by quoting "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach, tech PE"

[Imagine]

Thanks everyone - I think blue's answer is right... seems it anyway. I now feel like I've been enlightened! Thanks guys + gals )

[Quizmonster]

The phrase: "He who can does. He who cannot teaches" is, as Jules says, from George Bernard Shaw...specifically from his 'Maxims for Revolutionists'. (The same publication also includes such gems as "The golden rule is that there are no golden rules" and "Marriage is popular because it combines the maximum, of temptation with the maximum of opportunity.")

The teaching one is having a bit of a go at teachers, the idea being, for example, that - if a teacher of English was really any good at writing English - that's what he'd be doing...ie writing novels or whatever... instead of wasting his time trying to train others how to do that.