--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Character is the aim of true education…" description: "\"Character is the aim of true education; and science, history, and literature are but means used to accomplish this desired end.\" — David O. McKay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/david-o-mckay-2062_accomplish_character-is-the-aim-of-true-education-a_1462498.jpg" --- # Character is the aim of true education; and science… ![“Character is the aim of true education; and science, history, and literature are but means used to accomplish this desired end.” quote by David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/david-o-mckay-2062_accomplish_character-is-the-aim-of-true-education-a_1462498.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/david-o-mckay-2062_accomplish_character-is-the-aim-of-true-education-a_1462498.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/david-o-mckay-2062_accomplish_character-is-the-aim-of-true-education-a_1462498.jpg) > “Character is the aim of true education; and science, history, and literature are but means used to accomplish this desired end.” [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) ## 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 shape character; subjects like science, history, and literature are tools to achieve that goal. **In simple terms:** Education builds character using subjects as tools. Key Takeaway Focus on character development. Themes education character holistic learning Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - Teaching - parenting - curriculum design Key Concepts Moral philosophy integrative curriculum Questions to Reflect On - How can curricula balance character and knowledge? - What values should guide education? A Different Perspective May overlook practical skill acquisition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [True education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-education/) ## Related quotes > [How I envy those clerks who go by to their offices in the morning! There's the day's work cut out for them; no question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/how-i-envy-those-clerks-who-go-by-to-their-offices-in-the-morning/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > [Russian literature got me interested in what literature means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/russian-literature-got-me-interested-in-what-literature-means/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [My confidence in the future of literature consists in the knowledge that there are things that only literature can give us, by means specific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/my-confidence-in-the-future-of-literature-consists-in-the-knowledge/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [True education is awakening a love for truth...opening the eyes of the soul to the great purpose and end of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/true-education-is-awakening-a-love-for-truth-opening-the-eyes-of-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [True education seeks to make men and women not only good mathematicians, proficient linguists, profound scientists, or brilliant literary lights, but also honest men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/true-education-seeks-to-make-men-and-women-not-only-good/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“A man may possess a profound knowledge of history and mathematics; he may be an authority in psychology, biology, or astronomy; he may know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/a-man-may-possess-a-profound-knowledge-of-history-and-mathematics-he-2/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“A man may possess a profound knowledge of history and mathematics; he may be an authority in psychology, biology, or astronomy; he may know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/a-man-may-possess-a-profound-knowledge-of-history-and-mathematics-he/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Wisdom is the right application of knowledge; and true education...is the application of knowledge to the development of a noble and Godlike character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/wisdom-is-the-right-application-of-knowledge-and-true-education-is/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [True education does not consist merely in the acquiring of a few facts of science, history, literature, or art, but in the development of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/true-education-does-not-consist-merely-in-the-acquiring-of-a-few/) [David O. 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Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-function-of-education-is-to-teach-one-to-think-intensively-and-to/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [True education is limited to those people who would die without knowing, whereas the masses in the institutions are merely going through the motions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/true-education-is-limited-to-those-people-who-would-die-without/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More by David O. 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