It is wrong for a man to say that he is certain of the objective truth of any proposition unless he can produce evidence which logically justifies that certainty.
Thomas HuxleyRead
I really see no harm which can come of giving our children a little knowledge of physiology. ... The instruction must be real, based upon observation, eked out by good explanatory diagrams and models, and conveyed by a teacher whose own knowledge has been acquired by a study of the facts; and not the mere catechismal parrot-work which too often usurps the place of elementary teaching.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Teaching children about physiology can be beneficial if done through real observation and effective teaching methods.
In this quote, Thomas Huxley emphasizes the importance of providing children with knowledge in physiology, arguing that such education should be grounded in real observation and effective teaching practices. He critiques rote memorization and advocates for a learning process that is interactive, based on genuine understanding, and supported by visual aids. The goal is to cultivate informed and curious minds rather than to produce students who simply recite information without comprehension.
Themes
EducationPhysiologyTeachingKnowledgeLearning
In practice
Example use cases
In a school assembly, a teacher might use this quote to emphasize the importance of hands-on learning.
More from Thomas Huxley
All quotes βThe child who has been taught to make an accurate elevation, plan, and section of a pint pot has had an admirable training in accuracy of eye and hand.
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Let us have "sweet girl graduates" by all means. They will be none the less sweet for a little wisdom; and the "golden hair" will not curl less gracefully outside the head by reason of there being brains within.
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The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity.
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It is the first duty of a hypothesis to be intelligible.
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Of the few innocent pleasures left to men past middle life, the jamming of common sense down the throats of fools is perhaps the keenest.
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