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To my mind by far the greatest danger in scholarship...is…

“To my mind by far the greatest danger in scholarship...is not that the individual may fail to master the thought of a school but that a school may succeed in mastering the thought of the individual.” quote by Geoffrey Sampson
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“To my mind by far the greatest danger in scholarship...is not that the individual may fail to master the thought of a school but that a school may succeed in mastering the thought of the individual.”

Geoffrey Sampson

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Institutions can dominate individual thinking, limiting intellectual freedom.

In simple terms: Schools may control minds.

Key Takeaway

Question authority, protect independent thought.

Themes

education freedom authority

Mood

critical reflective

Type

philosophical cautionary

When to use this quote

  • academic research
  • curriculum design
  • policy making

Key Concepts

critical thinking institutional power

Questions to Reflect On

  • What checks prevent institutional overreach?
  • How can individuals retain autonomy?
A Different Perspective

Risk of overgeneralization about institutions.

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