“The great difficulty in education is to get experience out of ideas.”
Education is about more than classrooms and diplomas. These quotes challenge conventional thinking about learning, teaching, curiosity, and what it actually means to be educated — which, as several of these thinkers point out, has little to do with memorization.
“Racial segregation has come back to public education with a vengeance.”
“The great difficulty in education is to get experience out of ideas.”
“The best education in the world is that got by struggling to get a living.”
“Nine tenths of education is encouragement.”
“It is because the body is a machine that education is possible. Education is the formation of habits, a superinducing of an artificial organization upon the natural organization of the body.”
“America's growth historically has been fueled mostly by investment, education, productivity, innovation and immigration. The one thing that doesn't seem to have anything to do with America's growth rate is a brutal work schedule.”
“When they favor the access of other people to education and health care, the countries of the North not only demonstrate generosity or solidarity, but also implement the principles of respecting and promoting human rights.”
“Unfortunately, the elimination of incentives such as parole, good time credits and funding for college courses, means that fewer inmates participate in and excel in literacy, education, treatment and other development programs.”
“A country like Belgium, or socialist countries in central Europe spend more money on art education than the United States, which is a really puzzling thought.”
“Look, I want what's good for everybody. I want to promote good state education for all. I want to raise standards for all kids, irrespective of race and class but why can't they all just do what I say when I know I'm right?”
“Head Start graduates are more likely to graduate from high school and less likely to need special education, repeat a grade, or commit crimes in adolescence.”
“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.”
“In Mexico, theater is very underground, so if you're a theater actor it's very difficult to make a living. But it's also a very beautiful pathway to knowledge and to an open education.”
“I am often amazed at how much more capability and enthusiasm for science there is among elementary school youngsters than among college students.”
“The highest result of education is tolerance.”
“It is only as we develop others that we permanently succeed.”