Acquisition Quote by Bertrand Russell
““It is one of the defects of modern higher education that it has become too much a training in the acquisition of certain kinds of skill, and too little an enlargement of the mind and heart by an impartial survey of the world.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Education and the Mind, 1949
Higher education often overemphasizes technical skill at the expense of broad, humane understanding.
In simple terms: Schools focus on skills, not the mind.
Balance skill training with liberal learning.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- curriculum design
- teacher training
- student self‑study
- public policy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can curricula foster both competence and compassion?
- What role should the humanities play in modern universities?
Overemphasis on skills can limit creativity and empathy.