Benjamin Franklin Quotes on Education (13 Quotes)

Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man.

Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.

Dewey felt that since ideals are not perfectly attainable, they may demoralize students who try to measure up to them. The general tendency of reading good history must be to fix in the minds of youth deep impressions of the beauty and usefulness of virtue of all kinds, public spirit, fortitude, etc.

If thou hast wit learning, add to it Wisdom and Modesty.

Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.

Learn of the skillful he that teaches himself, has a fool for his master.

Genius without education is like silver in the mine.

Franklin told of something which had happened at Lancaster in Pennsylvania at a treaty between the Six Nations and Virginia in 1744. The Virginia commissioners offered to take six Indian boys and educate them at the college in Williamsburg. The Indians, after politely waiting till the next day, declined the offer. Their young men who had gone to college in the northern provinces had come back 'bad runners, ignorant of every means of living in the woods, unable to bear either cold or hunger, knew neither how to build a cabin, take a deer, or kill an enemy, spoke our languages imperfectly, were therefore neither fit for warriors, hunters, or counselors they were totally good for nothing.' But the Indians would take a dozen Virginia boys and educate them properly in the forest.

Enjoy the present hour, be mindful of the past And neither fear nor wish the Approaches of the last. Learn of the skilful He that teaches himself, hath a fool for his master.

Experience is a dear teacher, but fools will learn at no other.

Teach your child to hold his tongue he'll learn fast enough to speak.

If you would not be forgotten, As soon as you are dead and rotten, Either write things worth reading, Or do things worth the writing.

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.