The agentive mind is not only active in nature, but it seeks out dialogue and discourse with other active minds. And it is through this dialogic, discursive process that we come to know the Other and his points of view, his stories. We learn an enormous amount not only about the world but about ourselves by discourse with Others.

I would urge that the yeast of education is the idea of excellence, and the idea of excellence comprises as many forms as there are individuals, each of whom develops his own image of excellence. The school must have as one of its principal functions the nurturing of images of excellence.

Whoever reflects recognizes that there are empty and lonely spaces between one’s experiences.

Passion, like discriminating taste, grows on its use. You more likely act yourself into feeling than feel yourself into action.

We begin with the hypothesis that any subject can be taught effectively in some intellectually honest form to any child at any stage of development.

We are storytelling creatures, and as children we acquire language to tell those stories that we have inside us.

Good teaching is forever being on the cutting edge of a child's competence.