--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our schools too often want to shut people…" description: "\"Our schools too often want to shut people up so they can't talk about real solutions. People who think differently tend to clam up because they think s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/benjamin-carson-955_clams_our-schools-too-often-want-to-shut-peopl_50443.png" --- # Our schools too often want to shut people up so they can't… ![“Our schools too often want to shut people up so they can't talk about real solutions. People who think differently tend to clam up because they think something is wrong with their ideas.” quote by Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/benjamin-carson-955_clams_our-schools-too-often-want-to-shut-peopl_50443.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/benjamin-carson-955_clams_our-schools-too-often-want-to-shut-peopl_50443.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/benjamin-carson-955_clams_our-schools-too-often-want-to-shut-peopl_50443.png) > “Our schools too often want to shut people up so they can't talk about real solutions. People who think differently tend to clam up because they think something is wrong with their ideas.” [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) ## 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 critiques educational environments that suppress dissenting ideas, suggesting that fear of being wrong silences innovative thinking. **In simple terms:** Silencing dissent stifles solutions. Key Takeaway Encourage open dialogue in schools. Themes Freedom of speech Education reform Critical thinking Social conformity Innovation Mood Reflective Concerned Type Observation Critique When to use this quote - Classroom discussions - Curriculum design - Student councils - Teacher training - Policy debates Key Concepts Censorship Groupthink Intellectual diversity Psychological safety Practical Applications - Implement debate clubs - Adopt inclusive curricula Questions to Reflect On - How can schools foster safe spaces for differing opinions? - What mechanisms prevent ideas from being dismissed prematurely? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clams/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-think/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Shut People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shut-people-661089/) [Solutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solutions/) [Think Differently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-differently/) [Think Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-wrong/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wrong ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-ideas/) ## Related quotes > [You cannot approach people who think differently with reason and logic if they don't know what that means. First, you have to appeal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/you-cannot-approach-people-who-think-differently-with-reason-and/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Sometimes I definitely shut people out. I can be that sort of girlfriend who crosses her arms, shakes her head and says, "Nope, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/sometimes-i-definitely-shut-people-out-i-can-be-that-sort-of/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [Don't be snarky, but don't be saccharine. Don't pander, but don't shut people out. Go straight down the line with the performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-slate/don-t-be-snarky-but-don-t-be-saccharine-don-t-pander-but-don-t-shut/) [Jenny Slate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-slate/) > [Generally in our world, whether in architecture or almost anywhere else, we devalue the artist, and schools at whatever level shut people down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/generally-in-our-world-whether-in-architecture-or-almost-anywhere/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [Sometimes we have to shut people out of our lives, not because we want to, but because they hurt us so much, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/sometimes-we-have-to-shut-people-out-of-our-lives-not-because-we-want/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [I dont really like big crowds, I tend to shut people out. I like my space, yeah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-kelly/i-dont-really-like-big-crowds-i-tend-to-shut-people-out-i-like-my-2/) [Tori Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-kelly/) > [“The same word anyone said when they didn’t understand something. Crazy was a way to shut people up, disregard them entirely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jos-older/the-same-word-anyone-said-when-they-didn-t-understand-something-crazy/) [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) > [I'm not to the point where I need to shut myself off from people, unless I feel like I need to, but I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/i-m-not-to-the-point-where-i-need-to-shut-myself-off-from-people/) [T.I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-i/) > [The only way to shut people up is just by winning and just playing basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-howard/the-only-way-to-shut-people-up-is-just-by-winning-and-just-playing/) [Dwight Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-howard/) > [If you don't have the smoking gun, then it's pointless to hector interviewees. Because you just shut people up instead of opening them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frost/if-you-don-t-have-the-smoking-gun-then-it-s-pointless-to-hector/) [David Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frost/) > [“When we shut people out, we wall ourselves in;When we stop building bridges, we start erecting fences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/when-we-shut-people-out-we-wall-ourselves-in-when-we-stop-building/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [You are not ashamed of our luuurve, are you, Jas?' 'Look, shut up, people might hear.' 'What do you mean, the people who live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-rennison/you-are-not-ashamed-of-our-luuurve-are-you-jas-look-shut-up-people/) [Louise Rennison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-rennison/) > [Don't build walls and shut people out of your life. To act as if another does not exist is a mean and cruel weapon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/don-t-build-walls-and-shut-people-out-of-your-life-to-act-as-if/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“By being a celebrity, you lose your anonymity. It short-circuits your creative powers when people come up and interrupt your train of thought. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/by-being-a-celebrity-you-lose-your-anonymity-it-short-circuits-your/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I try to wait until things set up just right before I take a trade. Then, when I'm ready to take the trade, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bradford-raschke/i-try-to-wait-until-things-set-up-just-right-before-i-take-a-trade/) [Linda Bradford Raschke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bradford-raschke/) ## More by Benjamin Carson > [We have a war on women, race wars. Income wars, age wars, religious wars, anything you can imagine. A house divided against itself cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/we-have-a-war-on-women-race-wars-income-wars-age-wars-religious-wars/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [I do not want to get rid of the safety net, I want to get rid of dependency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-do-not-want-to-get-rid-of-the-safety-net-i-want-to-get-rid-of/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Even if somebody disagrees with you, their life is still valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/even-if-somebody-disagrees-with-you-their-life-is-still-valuable/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [No matter who you are,no matter what you do-do not be too big for GOD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/no-matter-who-you-are-no-matter-what-you-do-do-not-be-too-big-for-god/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [I want the government to provide the military so we don't get invaded by somebody and destroyed. I want the government to provide the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-want-the-government-to-provide-the-military-so-we-don-t-get-invaded/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [If you're a Christian and you're running for president and you want to make this into a theocracy, I'm not going to support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/if-you-re-a-christian-and-you-re-running-for-president-and-you-want/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [I don't want my kids to grow up with no father like I did. I came to the conclusion a while ago that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-don-t-want-my-kids-to-grow-up-with-no-father-like-i-did-i-came-to/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Uninformed people can be easily manipulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/uninformed-people-can-be-easily-manipulated/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [The left, of course, will say Carson doesn't believe in the Geneva Convention, Carson doesn't believe in fighting stupid wars. And - and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/the-left-of-course-will-say-carson-doesn-t-believe-in-the-geneva/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [I don't worry about things that aren't important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-don-t-worry-about-things-that-aren-t-important/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Surrendering to fear and allowing ourselves to be paralyzed by peril isn't something most of us can afford to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/surrendering-to-fear-and-allowing-ourselves-to-be-paralyzed-by-peril/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [I said Ted Cruz has been lying because if you say something that isn't true, and you say it over and over again, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-said-ted-cruz-has-been-lying-because-if-you-say-something-that-isn/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Whoever wins in 2016, I'm pretty sure it's going to be a Republican, I think they should make it their goal to seal that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/whoever-wins-in-2016-i-m-pretty-sure-it-s-going-to-be-a-republican-i/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [So after a while, if people won't accept your excuses, you stop looking for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/so-after-a-while-if-people-won-t-accept-your-excuses-you-stop-looking/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) [Explore all 321 Benjamin Carson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) ## More Clams quotes > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [This living, this living, this living Was never a project of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/this-living-this-living-this-living-was-never-a-project-of-mine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [Me and Clams have always kept it organic with the way we work. It's just always the right time. It's never no pressure. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-b/me-and-clams-have-always-kept-it-organic-with-the-way-we-work-it-s/) [Lil B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-b/) > [I froze, shocked. (And don't try to clam that you did anything different the first time a government bureaucrat pulled a gun on you.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-froze-shocked-and-don-t-try-to-clam-that-you-did-anything-different/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [I am lucky to be what I am! Thank goodness I'm not just a clam, or a ham, or a dusty jar of sour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/i-am-lucky-to-be-what-i-am-thank-goodness-i-m-not-just-a-clam-or-a/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [I make a wicked clam chowdah, and linguine with clam sauce. Oysters I like to eat raw, and mussels in either a white wine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-himes/i-make-a-wicked-clam-chowdah-and-linguine-with-clam-sauce-oysters-i/) [Jim Himes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-himes/) > [Clams's music to me is where there's no boundaries. It was just exciting for my mind to be as free as Clams's music is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-b/clams-s-music-to-me-is-where-there-s-no-boundaries-it-was-just/) [Lil B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-b/) > [Happy as a clam, is what my mother says for happy. I am happy as a clam: hard-shelled, firmly closed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/happy-as-a-clam-is-what-my-mother-says-for-happy-i-am-happy-as-a-clam/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“You’ll be taking the last a’ those,” Dorey confided. “I had a vendor try to convince me to shrink-wrap and freeze, but they’re never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-delinsky/you-ll-be-taking-the-last-a-those-dorey-confided-i-had-a-vendor-try/) [Barbara Delinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-delinsky/) > [It is a dead heart. It is inside of me. It is a stranger yet once it was agreeable, opening and closing like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/it-is-a-dead-heart-it-is-inside-of-me-it-is-a-stranger-yet-once-it/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [My favorite thing is Spaghetti with white clam sauce anywhere on the Amalfi Coast or the Tuscan Coast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-english/my-favorite-thing-is-spaghetti-with-white-clam-sauce-anywhere-on-the/) [Todd English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-english/) > [Right before when the iMac came out is when most people associate Apple started. That's when people remember Apple - that first iMac or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-michael-stern/right-before-when-the-imac-came-out-is-when-most-people-associate/) [Joshua Michael Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-michael-stern/) > [I can joke around and do what I want and be great in my area and play around and be the best, but when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-b/i-can-joke-around-and-do-what-i-want-and-be-great-in-my-area-and-play/) [Lil B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-b/) > [But when that smoking chowder came in, the mystery was delightfully explained. Oh! sweet friends, hearken to me. It was made of small juicy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-when-that-smoking-chowder-came-in-the-mystery-was-delightfully/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [When I am really angry, I clam up, go cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-kapoor/when-i-am-really-angry-i-clam-up-go-cold/) [Ram Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-kapoor/) [Browse all 55 Clams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our schools too often want to shut people up so they can't talk about real solutions. 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