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In passing, I firmly believe that research should be…

“In passing, I firmly believe that research should be offset by a certain amount of teaching, if only as a change from the agony of research. The trouble, however, I freely admit, is that in practice you get either no teaching, or else far too much.” quote by John Edensor Littlewood
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“In passing, I firmly believe that research should be offset by a certain amount of teaching, if only as a change from the agony of research. The trouble, however, I freely admit, is that in practice you get either no teaching, or else far too much.”

John Edensor Littlewood

About This Quote

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

Balancing research with teaching is essential, but practical constraints often lead to either neglecting teaching or overloading it.

In simple terms: Research needs teaching, but balance is hard.

Key Takeaway

Seek realistic teaching commitments.

Themes

education research balance

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

advisory reflective

When to use this quote

  • University faculty planning
  • curriculum design
  • mentor-mentee meetings

Key Concepts

Academic workload pedagogy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can institutions incentivize balanced teaching?
  • What structures support sustainable teaching loads?
A Different Perspective

Teaching quality may suffer if overloaded.

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