But if we believe what we profess concerning the worth of the individual, then the idea of individual development within a framework of ethical purpose must become our deepest concern, our national preoccupation, our passion, our obsession. We must think of education as relevant for everyone everywhere - at all ages and in all conditions of life.

The ultimate goal of the educational system is to shift to the individual the burden of pursing his own education. This will not be a widely shared pursuit until we get over our odd conviction that education is what goes on in school buildings and nowhere else.

History never looks like history when you are living through it. It always looks confusing and messy, and it always feels uncomfortable.

For every talent that poverty has stimulated it has blighted a hundred.

Renewal is not just innovation and change. It is also the process of bringing the results of change into line with our purposes.

Our problem is not to find better values but to be faithful to those we profess.

We pay a heavy price for our fear of failure. It is a powerful obstacle to growth. It assures the progressive narrowing of the personality and prevents exploration and experimentation. There is no learning without some difficulty and fumbling. If you want to keep on learning, you must keep on risking failure-all your life.