Perhaps a modern society can remain stable only by eliminating adolescence, by giving its young, from the age of ten, the skills, responsibilities, and rewards of grownups, and opportunities for action in all spheres of life. Adolescence should be a time of useful action, while book learning and scholarship should be a preoccupation of adults.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that society should prepare young people for adulthood earlier by assigning them adult responsibilities and opportunities.
Eric Hoffer argues that a stable society might require the elimination of adolescence as a distinct phase, advocating for the early introduction of adult responsibilities and opportunities to the youth. He believes that this would allow young individuals to engage in meaningful actions rather than just scholastic pursuits, thus fostering a more responsible and action-oriented generation capable of contributing to society.
In practice
In a speech about educational reform, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of practical skills for students.
Language was invented to ask questions. Answers may be given by grunts and gestures, but questions must be spoken. Humanness came of age when man asked the first question. Social stagnation results not from a lack of answers but from the absence of the impulse to ask questions.
Faith in humanity, in posterity, in the destiny of one's religion, nation, race, party or family-what is it but the visualization of that eternal something to which we attach the self that is about to be annihilated?
You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.
Our frustration is greater when we have much and want more than when we have nothing and want some. We are less dissatisfied when we lack many things than when we seem to lack but one thing.
Our credulity is greatest concerning the things we know least about.
It is the awareness of unfulfilled desires which gives a nation the feeling that it has a mission and a destiny.
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
There are more books in the world than hours in which to read them. We are thus deeply influenced by books we haven't read, that we haven't had the time to read.
We worship education but hate learning. We worship success but hate the successful. We worship fame but hate the famous.
What is much harder to handle is the sense that you have to live up to the mark someone else has set for you. The grades become too important, the competition too frantic, the fear of disappointing those who believe in you turns into an overwhelming nightmare.
Keep your hands moving. Writing is rewriting.
Most of the people who will walk after me will be children, so make the beat keep time with short steps.
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