Really great moral teachers never do introduce new…
“Really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that… The real job of every moral teacher is to keep on bringing us back, time after time, to the old simple principles which we are all so anxious not to see; like bringing a horse back and back to the fence it has refused to jump or bringing a child back and back to the bit in its lesson that it wants to shirk.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Moral teachers should reinforce timeless principles rather than invent new ones, guiding people back to foundational values.
In simple terms: Stick to old simple principles.
Key Takeaway
Focus on core values.
Themes
morality
guidance
tradition
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- parenting
- education
- leadership
- counseling
- self‑improvement
Key Concepts
ethics
principle reinforcement
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance tradition with modern challenges?
- When should we reconsider old principles?
A Different Perspective
New moralities can cause confusion and resistance.