Fables should be taught as fables, myths as myths, and…
““Fables should be taught as fables, myths as myths, and miracles as poetic fancies. To teach superstitions as truths is a most terrible thing. The child mind accepts and believes them, and only through great pain and perhaps tragedy can he be in after years relieved of them. In fact, men will fight for a superstition quite as quickly as for a living truth — often more so, since a superstition is so intangible you cannot get at it to refute it, but truth is a point of view, and so is changeable.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Teaching myths as truth harms critical thinking; truth is fluid, myths are cultural narratives.
In simple terms: Myths as truth impede insight; truth is changeable.
Key Takeaway
Teach myths as myth, not fact.
Themes
education
critical thinking
myths
truth
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- classrooms
- parenting
- media literacy
Key Concepts
epistemology
cultural studies
pedagogy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can educators differentiate myth from fact?
- What impact does myth‑based teaching have on society?
A Different Perspective
Rigid belief systems resist change.