It is a rare privilege to watch the birth, growth, and first feeble struggles of a living mind; this privilege is mine.

We all like stories that make us cry. It's so nice to feel sad when you've nothing in particular to feel sad about.

I never taught language for the purpose of teaching it; but invariably used language as a medium for the communication of thought; thus the learning of language was coincident with the acquisition of knowledge.

I cannot explain it; but when difficulties arise, I am not perplexed or doubtful. I know how to meet them.

I am beginning to suspect all elaborate and special systems of education. They seem to me to be built upon the supposition that every child is a kind of idiot who must be taught to think. Whereas if the child is left to himself, he will think more and better , if less "showily." Let him come and go freely, let him touch real things and combine his impressions for himself... Teaching fills the mind with artificial associations that must be got rid of before the child can develop independent ideas out of actual experiences.

We all make mistakes, as the hedgehog said as he climbed off the scrubbing brush

The wrong things are predominantly stressed in the schools - things remote from the student's experience and need.