Education, from Addams' perspective, must not merely make us more adept at defending ourselves against those with different agendas. Education should increase our powers of empathy and our ability to act in concert with others.

Michael S. Roth
About This Quote

The purpose of education is to increase the abilities of the individual. When we take this idea seriously, it drastically changes our views of education. We see that not all knowledge is useful. The knowledge that makes us better at defending ourselves against those with different agendas is useless. Education should be a process for raising a person's consciousness and raising them towards a more empathetic and kinder world.

Source: Beyond The University: Why Liberal Education Matters

Some Similar Quotes
  1. All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart. - Tahereh Mafi
  2. It is an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being. - John Joseph Powell
  3. It’s important that what thoughts you are feeding into your mind because your thoughts create your belief and experiences. You have positive thoughts and you have negative ones too. Nurture your mind with positive thoughts: kindness, empathy, compassion, peace, love, joy, humility, generosity, etc. The... - Roy T. Bennett
  4. Men build too many walls and not enough bridges. - Joseph Fort Newton
  5. Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path. - Unknown
More Quotes By Michael S. Roth
  1. A deep commitment to general education is impossible in a context in which faculty and students prize above all their ability to teach and study what they want.
  2. Education, from Addams' perspective, must not merely make us more adept at defending ourselves against those with different agendas. Education should increase our powers of empathy and our ability to act in concert with others.
  3. Beware of critics of education who cloak their desire to protect privilege (and inequality) in the garb of educational reform.
Related Topics