--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to oppose the idea that the school…" description: "\"“I want to oppose the idea that the school has to teach directly that special knowledge and those accomplishments which one has to use later directly i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/albert-einstein-33_critical-thinking_i-want-to-oppose-the-idea-that-the-schoo_1060864.jpg" --- # I want to oppose the idea that the school has to teach… ![“I want to oppose the idea that the school has to teach directly that special knowledge and those accomplishments which one has to use later directly in life. The demands of life are much too manifold to let such a specialized training in school appear possible [...] The development of general…” quote by Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/albert-einstein-33_critical-thinking_i-want-to-oppose-the-idea-that-the-schoo_1060864.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/albert-einstein-33_critical-thinking_i-want-to-oppose-the-idea-that-the-schoo_1060864.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/albert-einstein-33_critical-thinking_i-want-to-oppose-the-idea-that-the-schoo_1060864.jpg) > ““I want to oppose the idea that the school has to teach directly that special knowledge and those accomplishments which one has to use later directly in life. The demands of life are much too manifold to let such a specialized training in school appear possible \[...\] The development of general ability for independent thinking and judgement should always be placed foremost.”” [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## 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 prioritize developing independent thinking over narrowly specialized knowledge because life demands versatile abilities. **In simple terms:** Teach thinking, not just facts. Key Takeaway Focus on critical thinking skills. Themes education critical thinking lifelong learning Mood thoughtful inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - school curricula - career planning - personal development - problem solving Key Concepts independent judgement general ability versatility Questions to Reflect On - How can schools balance depth and breadth? - What habits foster independent judgement? A Different Perspective Specialized training may not cover future unpredictable challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Critical thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical-thinking/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [General Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-ability-2590065/) [Idea School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-school-337150/) [Independent thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent-thinking/) [Independent thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent-thought/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Oppose Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppose-idea-2590063/) [Teach Directly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-directly-2590064/) ## Related quotes > [The development of general ability for independent thinking and judgment should always be placed foremost, not the acquisition of special knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-development-of-general-ability-for-independent-thinking-and/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Small is the number of them that see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/small-is-the-number-of-them-that-see-with-their-own-eyes-and-feel/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I remember being intrigued by the idea of school-in-a-box, just-add-water-and-Sam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-remember-being-intrigued-by-the-idea-of-school-in-a-box-just-add/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Everybody goes where everybody goes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vato/everybody-goes-where-everybody-goes/) [Thomas Vato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-vato/) > [“As only dead leaves allow the wind to blow them to and fro, never allow yourself to be swayed by popular opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/as-only-dead-leaves-allow-the-wind-to-blow-them-to-and-fro-never/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Seven Ways To Get Ahead in Business: 1. Be forward thinking 2. Be inventive, and daring 3. Do the right thing 4. Be honest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/seven-ways-to-get-ahead-in-business-1-be-forward-thinking-2-be/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Tokyo is bigger than Kumamoto. And Japan is bigger than Tokyo. And even bigger than Japan... Even bigger than Japan is the inside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soseki-natsume/tokyo-is-bigger-than-kumamoto-and-japan-is-bigger-than-tokyo-and-even/) [Sōseki Natsume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soseki-natsume/) > [Education in Chess has to be an education in independent thinking and judging. 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He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/somebody-who-only-reads-newspapers-and-at-best-books-of-contemporary/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## More by Albert Einstein > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. 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Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-j-borg/) > [ Simply disabling specific critical thinking skills is all that is necessary for the god virus \[to take control of a person\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrel-ray/simply-disabling-specific-critical-thinking-skills-is-all-that-is/) [Darrel Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrel-ray/) > [“You know, I don't believe that religions are religions. No, I believe they are philosophies with some good ideas and some fuckin' weird ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/you-know-i-don-t-believe-that-religions-are-religions-no-i-believe/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [“critical thinking Scenario 1 Mrs. Hernandez is an 85-yearold female admitted to surgery for insertion of a hip prosthesis to treat a hip fracture.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-snyder/critical-thinking-scenario-1-mrs-hernandez-is-an-85-yearold-female/) [Katherine Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-snyder/) > [We put too much of a premium on presenting and not enough on substance and critical thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/we-put-too-much-of-a-premium-on-presenting-and-not-enough-on/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [Capricorns think they know whats best for everyone and their overcritical thinking may sometimes bother the people they love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/capricorns-think-they-know-whats-best-for-everyone-and-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A politician often uses an example or analogy as an attempt to make us forget the question he or she is supposedly answering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-politician-often-uses-an-example-or-analogy-as-an-attempt-to-make/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Educators and psychologists have a mantra these days: No matter how hectic the schedules of your family members may be, make time to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-lythcott-haims/educators-and-psychologists-have-a-mantra-these-days-no-matter-how/) [Julie Lythcott-Haims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-lythcott-haims/) > [The truth is that family values, as used by the American Family Association, Dan Quayle, and the southern Baptists, has nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-sullivan/the-truth-is-that-family-values-as-used-by-the-american-family/) [Morris Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-sullivan/) > [“You must be able to say, with reasonable certainty, "I understand," before you can say "I agree," or "I disagree," or "I suspend judgment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-j-adler/you-must-be-able-to-say-with-reasonable-certainty-i-understand-before/) [Mortimer J. 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It’s nothing to be admired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/faith-means-the-purposeful-suspension-of-critical-thinking-it-s/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“With school turning out more runners, jumpers, racers, tinkerers, grabbers, snatchers, fliers, and swimmers instead of examiners, critics, knowers, and imaginative creators, the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/with-school-turning-out-more-runners-jumpers-racers-tinkerers/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Browse all 321 Critical thinking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical-thinking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I want to oppose the idea that the school has to teach directly that special knowledge and those accomplishments which one has to use later directly in life. 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