--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the 'mud-sill' theory it is assumed…" description: "\"By the 'mud-sill' theory it is assumed that labor and education are incompatible; and any practical combination of them impossible. According to that t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/abraham-lincoln-88_blind_by-the-mud-sill-theory-it-is-assumed-tha_1479707.png" --- # By the 'mud-sill' theory it is assumed that labor and… ![“By the 'mud-sill' theory it is assumed that labor and education are incompatible; and any practical combination of them impossible. According to that theory, a blind horse upon a tread-mill, is a perfect illustration of what a laborer should be -- all the better for being blind, that he could not…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/abraham-lincoln-88_blind_by-the-mud-sill-theory-it-is-assumed-tha_1479707.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/abraham-lincoln-88_blind_by-the-mud-sill-theory-it-is-assumed-tha_1479707.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/abraham-lincoln-88_blind_by-the-mud-sill-theory-it-is-assumed-tha_1479707.png) > “By the 'mud-sill' theory it is assumed that labor and education are incompatible; and any practical combination of them impossible. According to that theory, a blind horse upon a tread-mill, is a perfect illustration of what a laborer should be -- all the better for being blind, that he could not tread out of place, or kick understandingly. According to that theory, the education of laborers, is not only useless, but pernicious, and dangerous. In fact, it is, in some sort, deemed a misfortune that laborers should have heads at all.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that labor and education cannot be combined, portraying educated workers as blind and dangerous. **In simple terms:** Education harms workers, says the speaker. Key Takeaway Question the value of limiting workers' education. Themes education labor class misinformation Mood critical skeptical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - industrial revolution - workers' rights - policy debates - union organizing Key Concepts capitalism social control elitism Questions to Reflect On - Is education truly harmful to laborers? - What benefits does education bring to workers? A Different Perspective The argument ignores evidence that education improves productivity and empowerment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Kicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kicks/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Laborers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laborers/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) ## Related quotes > [Not many academics do labor education. Why not? 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