WIST Quotations

Milton, John -- Tractate on Education (1673)

Dave — Tue, 13 May 2025 15:55:45 +0000

But here the main skill and ground-work will be, to temper them such lectures and explanations upon every opportunity as may lead and draw them in willing obedience, inflamed with the study of learning, and the admiration of virtue; stirred up with high hopes of living to be brave men, and worthy patriots, dear to God, and famous to all ages.

John Milton (1608–1674) English poet
Tractate on Education (1673)

Highet, Gilbert -- The Immortal Profession: The Joys of Teaching and Learning (1976)

Dave — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 19:14:10 +0000

The chief aim of education is to show you, after you make a livelihood, how to enjoy living; and you can live longest and best and most rewardingly by attaining and preserving the happiness of learning.

Gilbert Highet (1906–1978) Scottish-American classicist, academic writer, intellectual critic, literary historian
The Immortal Profession: The Joys of Teaching and Learning (1976)

Adams, John -- Essay (1765-10-22), “VI. ‘A Dissertation on the Canon and the Feudal Law,'” No. 4

Dave — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:55:27 +0000

This spirit [of liberty] however, without knowledge, would be little better than a brutal rage. Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak and write. Let every order and degree among the people rouse their attention and animate their resolution. Let them all become attentive to the grounds and principles of government, ecclesiastical and civil. Let us study the law of nature; search into the spirit of the British constitution; read the histories of ancient ages; contemplate the great examples of Greece and Rome; set before us, the conduct of our own British ancestors, who have defended for us, the inherent rights of mankind, against foreign and domestic tyrants and usurpers, against arbitrary kings and cruel priests, in short against the gates of earth and hell. […] In a word, let every sluice of knowledge be open’d and set aflowing.

John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founder, statesman; US President (1797–1801)
Essay (1765-10-22), “VI. ‘A Dissertation on the Canon and the Feudal Law,'” No. 4

On fostering knowledge about government, rights, the law, and liberty among the people.

Plutarch -- Morals [Moralia], “On Listening to Lectures”

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.

Plutarch (AD 46–127) Greek historian, biographer, essayist [Mestrius Plutarchos]
Morals [Moralia], “On Listening to Lectures”

Alt trans.: "The correct analogy for the mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting."