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Ninety-nine [students] out of a hundred are automata…

“Ninety-nine [students] out of a hundred are automata, careful to walk in prescribed paths, careful to follow the prescribed custom. This is not an accident but the result of substantial education, which, scientifically defined, is the subsumption of the individual.” quote by William Torrey Harris
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“Ninety-nine [students] out of a hundred are automata, careful to walk in prescribed paths, careful to follow the prescribed custom. This is not an accident but the result of substantial education, which, scientifically defined, is the subsumption of the individual.”

William Torrey Harris

About This Quote

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

Education can turn people into conformists who follow set paths, reducing individuality.

In simple terms: Education can make people just follow rules.

Key Takeaway

Encourage critical thinking and personal autonomy.

Themes

conformity education individuality social control

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical analytical

When to use this quote

  • schools
  • corporate training
  • military drills
  • parental guidance

Key Concepts

social conditioning pedagogy autonomy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does education balance conformity and creativity?
  • What practices foster independent thought?
A Different Perspective

May overlook creativity and innovation.

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