WIST Quotations

Russell, Bertrand -- Education and the Social Order [Education and the Modern World], ch. 9 “Sex in Education” (1932)

Dave — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 21:57:03 +0000

I am sure that university life would be better, both intellectually and morally, if most university students had temporary childless marriages. This would afford a solution to the sexual urge neither restless nor surreptitious, neither mercenary nor casual, and of such a nature that it need not take up time which ought to be given to work.

Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) English mathematician and philosopher
Education and the Social Order [Education and the Modern World], ch. 9 “Sex in Education” (1932)
(Source)

Commager, Henry Steele -- Essay (1947-09), “Who Is Loyal to America?” sec. 1, Harper’s Magazine, Vol. 195, No. 1168

Dave — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:00:36 +0000

We are shocked when we see educators, timid before criticism and confused about first principles, betray their trust. And we wonder what can be that “philosophy of education” which believes that young people can be trained to the duties of citizenship by wrapping their minds in cotton wool.

Henry Steele Commager (1902–1998) American historian, writer, activist
Essay (1947-09), “Who Is Loyal to America?” sec. 1, Harper’s Magazine, Vol. 195, No. 1168
(Source)

Regarding knee-jerk reactions from higher education when accused of disloyalty for having controversial speakers on campus. Reprinted in Freedom, Loyalty, Dissent (1954).

Madison, James -- Letter (1822-08-04) to William T. Barry

Dave — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 16:04:13 +0000

Learned Institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw that light over the public mind which is the best security against crafty & dangerous encroachments on the public liberty.

James Madison (1751–1836) American statesman, political theorist, US President (1809–17)
Letter (1822-08-04) to William T. Barry
(Source)

These words are one of the Madison quotes inscribed in the Madison Memorial Hall, Library of Congress, James Madison Memorial Building.

Kennedy, John F. -- Speech (1962-03-23), University of California, Berkeley

Dave — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 22:56:07 +0000

This college, therefore, from its earliest beginnings, has recognized and its graduates have recognized, that the purpose of education is not merely to advance the economic self-interest of its graduates. The people of California, as much if not more than the people of any other State, have supported their colleges and universities and their schools because they recognize how important it is to the maintenance of a free society that its citizens be well educated.

John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) American politician, author, journalist, US President (1961–63)
Speech (1962-03-23), University of California, Berkeley
(Source)

Johnson, Lyndon -- Speech (1964-09-28), Convocation, Brown University

Dave — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 23:16:41 +0000

If we turn away from knowledge and truth, we will not succeed. If we believe the worst and suspect the best, we alone will suffer. If we deny our progress, if we are against all of it, if we tear down our accomplishments, we will fill the world with sorrow, and we will blemish our own name with shame.
But if we are courageous and farsighted and farseeing, if we have no fear of the truth, if we seek only after light, then we and our children and our children’s children shall know the greatness of this wonderful, beautiful land we call America.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963–69)
Speech (1964-09-28), Convocation, Brown University
(Source)

On government support of higher education, research, and scholarship.

West, Cornel -- Democracy Matters, ch. 6 (2004)

Dave — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 17:26:04 +0000

Even within the university world, where the highest calling should be to spark the fires of intellectual exploration and to prepare young minds for engaged and productive participation in our democracy, the mandates of the market have attained prominence. The narrow quest for success crowds out the noble effort to be great — greatness understood as using one’s success to make the world a better place for all.

Cornel West (b. 1953) American philosopher, political activist, social critic
Democracy Matters, ch. 6 (2004)
(Source)

Gilligan, James -- Preventing Violence, ch. 5 (2001)

Dave — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 22:35:49 +0000

In short, the contradiction in the old defense of class stratification is that it defends leisure for the leisure class, but not for the underclass. With reference to the underclass, leisure is said to destroy the incentive to work, leads to slothfulness and self-indulgence, and retards cognitive and moral development. When applied to the leisure class, the concept evokes an image of Plato and Aristotle, whose leisure was based on slave labor, creating the intellectual foundations of Western civilization; or patrician slave-owners like Washington and Jefferson laying the foundations of American civilization; or creative aristocrats like Count Leo Tolstoy or Bertrand, Earl Russell; or, even closer to home, of our own sons and daughters (or of ourselves, when we were young adults) being freed from the stultifying tasks of earning a living until well into our adult years so that we could study in expensive universities to gain specialized knowledge and skills.

James Gilligan (b. c. 1936) American psychiatrist and author
Preventing Violence, ch. 5 (2001)
(Source)

Brewster, Kingman -- Inaugural address as President of Yale University (11 Apr 1964)

Dave — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:46:27 +0000

Universities should be safe havens where ruthless examination of realities will not be distorted by the aim to please or inhibited by the risk of displeasure.

Kingman Brewster, Jr. (1919–1988) American educator, diplomat
Inaugural address as President of Yale University (11 Apr 1964)