The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.
Interpretation
Education transforms our perspectives and understanding of the world.
In this quote, Sydney J. Harris emphasizes that the true aim of education is not just to reflect our own thoughts and experiences, like a mirror, but to broaden our horizons and allow us to see the world from different viewpoints, like a window. Education should encourage critical thinking and open-mindedness, enabling individuals to understand diverse perspectives and contribute positively to society.
In practice
This quote can be used during a graduation speech to inspire students to embrace lifelong learning.
A person is either himself or not himself; is either rooted in his existence or is a fabrication; has either found his humanhood or is still playing with masks and roles and status symbols. And nobody is more aware of this difference (although unconsciously) than a child. Only an authentic person can evoke a good response in the core of the other person; only person is resonant to person.
We evaluate others with a Godlike justice, but we want them to evaluate us with a Godlike compassion.
The commonest fallacy among women is that simply having children makes them a mother - which is as absurd as believing that having a piano makes one a musician.
Man's unique agony as a species consists in his perpetual conflict between the desire to stand out and the need to blend in.
"Terrorism" is what we call the violence of the weak, and we condemn it; "war" is what we call the violence of the strong, and we glorify it.
At it's highest level, the purpose of teaching is not to teachβit is to inspire the desire for learning. Once a student's mind is set on fire, it will find a way to provide its own fuel.
As a young writer, I was on guard against the Latina in me, the Spanish in me because as far as I could see the models that were presented to me did not include my world. In fact, 'I was told by one teacher in college that one could only write poetry in the language in which one first said Mother. That left me out of American literature, for sure.
No man can be a compleat Lawyer by universalitie of knowledge without experience in particular cases, nor by bare experience without universalitie of knowledge; he must be both speculative & active, for the science of the laws, I assure you, must joyne hands with experience.
A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people.
The most powerful teaching of children is by the example of their parents.
Just once in a while let us exalt the importance of ideas and information.
Medical education does not exist to provide students with a way of making a living, but to ensure the health of the community.
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