When the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free and was never free again.
Edith HamiltonRead
So far, we do not seem appalled at the prospect of exactly the same kind of education being applied to all the school children from the Atlantic to the Pacific, but there is an uneasiness in the air, a realization that the individual is growing less easy to find; an idea, perhaps, of what standardization might become when the units are not machines, but human beings.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses concern about standardizing education for all children, highlighting the risk of losing individuality in the process.
Edith Hamilton's quote reflects a critical view on the potential dangers of standardizing education across diverse populations. It suggests that while there may be an acceptance of uniform educational approaches, there is an underlying fear that such conformity could overshadow the unique qualities of each individual, especially when these 'units' being standardized are human beings, not machines. This touches upon the broader philosophical question of how education should accommodate individuality within a structured system.
Themes
EducationStandardizationIndividualityHuman BeingsPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a teacher's conference, this quote can be used to advocate for personalized teaching methods.
More from Edith Hamilton
All quotes →The power of good is shown not by triumphantly conquering evil, but by continuing to resist evil while facing certain defeat.
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Theories that go counter to the facts of human nature are foredoomed.
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To rejoice in life, to find the world beautiful ... was a mark of the Greek spirit.
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Responsibility is the price every man must pay for freedom.
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Pain is the most individualized thing on earth. It is true that it is the great common bond as well, but that realization only comes when it is over. To suffer is to be alone. To watch another suffer is to know the barrier that shuts each of us away by himself Only individuals can suffer.
Edith HamiltonRead
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