Why did Naval Ravikant state, "Don't equate learning with schooling"?

Okay, here is the translation:

Good point, this is a very interesting question and a core concept in Naval's philosophy. If you've listened to his podcasts or read his quotes, you'll notice he emphasizes this frequently.

Let's talk about this in plain language: why does he say this?

Why does Naval emphasize "Don't equate learning with a diploma"?

Think of it like this: Formal schooling (a diploma) is like a "set menu" served to you at a restaurant; real learning, however, teaches you how to "cook".

The Set Menu (Diploma): It's convenient. It offers fixed dishes (courses), and when you finish, you get a receipt (diploma) proving you dined there. It solves immediate hunger (needs) and proves to others you've eaten (met requirements). The problem is, the menu was chosen for you, wasn't necessarily your favorite, and once you leave the restaurant, you still might not know how to cook.
Learning to Cook (Real Learning): This is the process of mastering fundamental abilities. Once you learn how, you own the entire kitchen (the internet, books, the world). You can cook any dish you want (learn any knowledge) according to your taste (interests), anytime, anywhere. This ability stays with you for life.

Naval repeatedly highlights this distinction mainly for the following reasons:

1. The Purpose is Different: One Aims for a "Credential", the Other for "Real Skills"

The Purpose of Schooling: To a large extent, school is a screening and certification system. One of its primary purposes is to grant you a diploma that proves to society you "meet a certain standard". Very often, studying hard is primarily aimed at passing exams to get this "ticket of entry". The knowledge itself isn't the main thing anymore.
The Purpose of Real Learning: It's to satisfy your own curiosity, solve real problems you encounter, and master genuine skills that make you more capable. Its driving force is internal—it's for your own growth, not to satisfy someone else.

For example: A computer science student might memorize all the concepts and test points to pass an "Operating Systems" course, get a high grade, but forget everything after graduation. Meanwhile, a genuine programming enthusiast might delve into the hardcore knowledge of "Operating Systems" on their own initiative to build a project they actually care about. While they have no diploma for that specific course, they genuinely understand memory management and process scheduling—that skill becomes truly theirs.

2. The Time-Sensitivity is Different: One is "Canned Food", the Other is "Fresh Ingredients"

Schooling: The knowledge system is fixed and slow to update. A textbook might be used for years. By the time you spend four years finishing a degree, technologies and market demands might have gone through several iterations. Much of the knowledge you learned is "outdated" the moment you graduate.
Real Learning: It's dynamic and real-time. The internet has made acquiring knowledge extremely cheap and fast. You can update your knowledge base anytime by reading the latest papers, following industry leaders' blogs, or taking top-tier online courses. What you learn is useful "right now".

Naval believes that in modern society, if you stop learning, you will quickly become obsolete. Setting the endpoint of learning at "receiving the diploma" is very dangerous.

3. The Method is Different: One is "Passive Feeding", the Other is "Active Hunting"

Schooling: Most follows a "teacher lectures, you listen" mode. Knowledge is passively fed to you; you're in the position of a receiver. The schedule is fixed, leaving you little choice.
Real Learning: It's a process where you actively pursue knowledge. Driven by an interest, you search online, find a book, which then references another concept, so you follow that trail... This process is like forming a web; knowledge points connect on their own into a system. This is the most efficient learning method.

Naval calls this active learning ability "learning how to learn". He considers it the most important skill a person can have, bar none.

So, What Should We Do?

Naval isn't saying school is useless; he graduated from prestigious institutions himself. His point is: Don't let school be the entirety and endpoint of your learning.

Treat school as a boot camp: School can provide foundational knowledge, a learning environment, and a community of peers to interact with. Use it as a starting point, a learning "scaffold".
Maintain curiosity forever: Diving deep into things you're genuinely interested in is the lifelong fuel that drives learning.
Read voraciously: Especially focus on foundational subjects and seminal works, as "old knowledge" often contains more fundamental wisdom.
Make learning a way of life: Do it not for exams or jobs, but for fun and to satisfy your own thirst for knowledge. When you find joy in learning, it ceases to feel like a burden.

In short, Naval is reminding us: A diploma is merely a "snapshot" from your learning journey, while real learning is an "endlessly continuing movie". Truly exceptional individuals are lifelong learners who obtain the kitchen keys early on, rather than being satisfied with a restaurant set menu.