--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Education does not mean teaching people…" description: "\"Education does not mean teaching people what they do not know. It means teaching them to behave as they do not behave.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/abraham-lincoln-88_behave_education-does-not-mean-teaching-people_1940763.png" --- # Education does not mean teaching people what they do not… ![“Education does not mean teaching people what they do not know. It means teaching them to behave as they do not behave.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/abraham-lincoln-88_behave_education-does-not-mean-teaching-people_1940763.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/abraham-lincoln-88_behave_education-does-not-mean-teaching-people_1940763.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/abraham-lincoln-88_behave_education-does-not-mean-teaching-people_1940763.png) > “Education does not mean teaching people what they do not know. It means teaching them to behave as they do not behave.” [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. Education should transform behavior, not just impart knowledge; it must cultivate moral conduct beyond existing habits. **In simple terms:** Education changes how we act. Key Takeaway Teach moral character alongside facts. Themes education morality behavior reform learning Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - schools - community programs - parental guidance - workplace training Key Concepts ethical development social responsibility civic virtue Questions to Reflect On - How can we measure behavioral change? - What methods best teach moral conduct? A Different Perspective Changing behavior is complex and resists simple instruction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Homeschooling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homeschooling/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) ## Related quotes > [We should want children to value difference. Preparing them for a more just world doesn't mean teaching them to aspire to purple. It means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/we-should-want-children-to-value-difference-preparing-them-for-a-more/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [“Discipling our children is not about teaching them to behave in a way that won’t embarrass us. We’re working toward something much more important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voddie-t-baucham-jr/discipling-our-children-is-not-about-teaching-them-to-behave-in-a-way/) [Voddie T. Baucham Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voddie-t-baucham-jr/) > [“She also taught me to write, by which I mean not simply organizing a set of sentences into a series of paragraphs, but organizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/she-also-taught-me-to-write-by-which-i-mean-not-simply-organizing-a/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [Teaching people the best way to market organically with Facebook, is like teaching them the best way to butter bread, with a spoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-connolly/teaching-people-the-best-way-to-market-organically-with-facebook-is/) [Jim Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-connolly/) > [I don't think there's any such thing as teaching people photography, other than influencing them a little. People have to be their own learners.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imogen-cunningham/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-such-thing-as-teaching-people-photography/) [Imogen Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imogen-cunningham/) > [I must dedicate my life to teaching my people, for only education would make their lot less bitter, their latent power more strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/y-c-james-yen/i-must-dedicate-my-life-to-teaching-my-people-for-only-education/) [Y. C. James Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/y-c-james-yen/) > [When I got a little older, like, 10 or 11, my dad would run a training school every month, teaching people how to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige/when-i-got-a-little-older-like-10-or-11-my-dad-would-run-a-training/) Paige > [My investment of time, as an educator, in my judgment, is best served teaching people how to think about the world around them. Teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/my-investment-of-time-as-an-educator-in-my-judgment-is-best-served/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Teaching people to eat doesn't make a lot of money. Nevertheless, most of us go into medicine because of a genuine desire to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-gundry/teaching-people-to-eat-doesn-t-make-a-lot-of-money-nevertheless-most/) [Steven Gundry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-gundry/) > [The process of education is not generally a process of teaching people to think and ask questions. 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It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Behave quotes > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [You can behave as badly as you like in America. Nobody notices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/you-can-behave-as-badly-as-you-like-in-america-nobody-notices/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“Then Olympus it is. But do try to behave. I know it’s hard for you, but… (Delphine) I won’t piss on the floor. (Jericho)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/then-olympus-it-is-but-do-try-to-behave-i-know-it-s-hard-for-you-but/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The possibility of saying anything about a thing rests on the assumption that it preserves its identity, or continues to be the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-knight/the-possibility-of-saying-anything-about-a-thing-rests-on-the/) [Frank Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-knight/) > [Why does man behave like perfect idiot? This is the problem I wish to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-szent-gyorgyi/why-does-man-behave-like-perfect-idiot-this-is-the-problem-i-wish-to/) [Albert Szent-Gyorgyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-szent-gyorgyi/) > [This is a time in my life where I'm gonna behave like an elegant human being. Or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/this-is-a-time-in-my-life-where-i-m-gonna-behave-like-an-elegant/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [Most people, even in simple risky situations, don't behave the way the theory of utility would have them behave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-raiffa/most-people-even-in-simple-risky-situations-don-t-behave-the-way-the/) [Howard Raiffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-raiffa/) > [As a club, we have an educational purpose: to give back to those people who love Arsenal so that they learn moral values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/as-a-club-we-have-an-educational-purpose-to-give-back-to-those-people/) [Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/) > [What astonishes many of us is not so much that human nature is fundamentally corrupt; we are astonished rather that it does not behave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morton-irving-seiden/what-astonishes-many-of-us-is-not-so-much-that-human-nature-is/) Morton Irving Seiden > [Do we behave out of fear of punishment, or out of the demands of our heart? For me, it is the latter, as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-we-behave-out-of-fear-of-punishment-or-out-of-the-demands-of-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [The superpowers often behave like two heavily armed blind men feeling their way around a room, each believing himself in mortal peril from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-superpowers-often-behave-like-two-heavily-armed-blind-men-feeling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For political and bureaucratic reasons, governments at all levels are telling far less to the public than to insiders about how to prepare for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/for-political-and-bureaucratic-reasons-governments-at-all-levels-are/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) Browse all 1,587 Behave quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Education does not mean teaching people what they do not know. 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