Teach him to think for himself? Oh, my God, teach him rather to think like other people!
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of conformity in thought over independent thinking.
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelleyβs quote reflects a concern about the societal pressure to conform, suggesting that rather than encouraging individual thought, there is a tendency to prefer that people think in alignment with the majority. This commentary on societal expectations raises questions about the values placed on independent thought compared to social acceptance.
In practice
In a classroom discussion about critical thinking and individuality.
Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of a void, but out of chaos; the materials must in the first place be afforded; it can give form to dark, shapeless substances, but cannot bring into being the substance itself.
The instructor can scarcely give sensibility where it is essentially wanting, nor talent to the unpercipient block. But he can cultivate and direct the affections of the pupil, who puts forth, as a parasite, tendrils by which to cling, not knowing to what - to a supporter or a destroyer.
What terrified me will terrify others; and I need only describe the spectre which had haunted my midnight pillow.
I shall commit my thoughts to paper, it is true; but that is a poor medium for the communication of feeling. I desire the company of a man who could sympathize with me, whose eyes would reply to mine.
Heavy misfortunes have befallen us, but let us only cling closer to what remains, and transfer our love for those whom we have lost to those who yet live. Our circle will be small, but bound close by the ties of affection and mutual misfortune. And when time shall have softened your despair, new and dear objects of care will be born to replace those of whom we have been so cruelly deprived.
Hateful day when I received life!' I exclaimed in agony. 'Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemlance. Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and abhorred.' - Frankenstein
You parents can provide no better gift for your children than an education in the liberal arts. House and home burn down, but an education is easy to carry along.
If you get down about the state of American culture, just remember there are still more public libraries in this country than there are McDonalds.
For me, literacy means freedom. For the individual and for society.
If the use of leisure time is confined to looking at TV for a few extra hours every day, we will deteriorate as a people.
Libraries are the thin red line between civilization and barbarism.
It is this simplicity that makes the uneducated more effective than the educated when addressing popular audiences-makes them, as the poets tell us, 'charm the crowd's ears more finely.' Educated men lay down broad general principles; uneducated men argue from common knowledge and draw obvious conclusions.
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