--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True education does not consist merely in…" description: "\"True education does not consist merely in the acquiring of a few facts of science, history, literature, or art, but in the development of character.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/161/david-o-mckay-2062_art_true-education-does-not-consist-merely-i_890587.jpg" --- # True education does not consist merely in the acquiring of… ![“True education does not consist merely in the acquiring of a few facts of science, history, literature, or art, but in the development of character.” quote by David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/161/david-o-mckay-2062_art_true-education-does-not-consist-merely-i_890587.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/161/david-o-mckay-2062_art_true-education-does-not-consist-merely-i_890587.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/161/david-o-mckay-2062_art_true-education-does-not-consist-merely-i_890587.jpg) > “True education does not consist merely in the acquiring of a few facts of science, history, literature, or art, but in the development of character.” [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, not just transmit facts. **In simple terms:** Education builds character, not just facts. Key Takeaway Focus on personal growth. Themes character education values Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - school curricula - parental guidance - personal development programs - community workshops Key Concepts Moral development holistic learning Questions to Reflect On - How can curricula balance knowledge and character? - What habits nurture character daily? A Different Perspective Character formation is slower and harder than fact memorization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Mentoring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentoring/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [True education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-education/) ## Related quotes > [We don't focus as much in schools on educational knowledge which requires thinking and application, as we do on acquiring facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/we-don-t-focus-as-much-in-schools-on-educational-knowledge-which/) [William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/) > [The predominant difference between television and film is the pace to which you work, but the development of the character or the process for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-wood/the-predominant-difference-between-television-and-film-is-the-pace-to/) [Elijah Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-wood/) > [Development of character consists solely in moving toward self-sufficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/development-of-character-consists-solely-in-moving-toward-self/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [And what is true education? It is awakening a love for truth; giving a just sense of duty; opening the eyes of the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/and-what-is-true-education-it-is-awakening-a-love-for-truth-giving-a/) [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/) > [Character is the aim of true education; and science, history, and literature are but means used to accomplish this desired end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/character-is-the-aim-of-true-education-and-science-history-and/) [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 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/) > [Personally, my taste is towards development of a character, as well as the resolution of a story plot. I like to find both, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-denisof/personally-my-taste-is-towards-development-of-a-character-as-well-as/) [Alexis Denisof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-denisof/) > [Our busy lives force us to focus on things we do from day to day. But the development of character comes only as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/our-busy-lives-force-us-to-focus-on-things-we-do-from-day-to-day-but/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [“Responsibility leads to development of character.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pandit-shriram-sharma-acharya/responsibility-leads-to-development-of-character/) [PANDIT SHRIRAM SHARMA ACHARYA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pandit-shriram-sharma-acharya/) > ['D' is about a guy who starts off somewhere, and he's a very thinking kind of a guy. He's not an emotional person; he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-gopal-varma/d-is-about-a-guy-who-starts-off-somewhere-and-he-s-a-very-thinking/) [Ram Gopal Varma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-gopal-varma/) > [The end and aim of all education is the development of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-wayland-parker/the-end-and-aim-of-all-education-is-the-development-of-character/) Francis Wayland Parker ## More by David O. McKay > [But there is a beauty every girl has—a gift from God, as pure as the sunlight, and as sacred as life. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/but-there-is-a-beauty-every-girl-has-a-gift-from-god-as-pure-as-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Free agency is a gift of God…The world does not comprehend the significance of that divine gift to the individual. It is as inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/free-agency-is-a-gift-of-god-the-world-does-not-comprehend-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The latest I like to be to meeting is 15 minutes early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-latest-i-like-to-be-to-meeting-is-15-minutes-early/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Adversity itself may lead toward and not away from God and spiritual enlightenment; and privation may prove a source of strength if we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/adversity-itself-may-lead-toward-and-not-away-from-god-and-spiritual/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [No parent can consistently teach faith in Christ who profanes the name of Deity. Profanity is never heard in the well-ordered home. Swearing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-parent-can-consistently-teach-faith-in-christ-who-profanes-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [ \[One\] principle that actuated the lives of the fathers who founded our Constitution was faith in God. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/one-principle-that-actuated-the-lives-of-the-fathers-who-founded-our/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“No thing worth while is obtained in this life without sacrificing, without putting forth effort. The evil one thrusts things upon us but God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-thing-worth-while-is-obtained-in-this-life-without-sacrificing/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [There are seeds of happiness in every soul. Our mental attitude and dispositions constitute the environment in which these seeds germinate. There is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/there-are-seeds-of-happiness-in-every-soul-our-mental-attitude-and/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The most powerful thing in the world is an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-most-powerful-thing-in-the-world-is-an-idea/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [He who harbors hatred and bitterness injures himself far more than the one towards whom he manifests these evil propensities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/he-who-harbors-hatred-and-bitterness-injures-himself-far-more-than/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The Gospel of Jesus Christ can make bad men good and good men better, can alter human nature, and can change human lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-can-make-bad-men-good-and-good-men-better/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The basis of all sin is selfishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-basis-of-all-sin-is-selfishness/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“When you are tempted to stay away from that seventies' meeting, from that elder's meeting, from that deacons' quorum and you shrink from going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/when-you-are-tempted-to-stay-away-from-that-seventies-meeting-from/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [And what is true education? It is awakening a love for truth; giving a just sense of duty; opening the eyes of the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/and-what-is-true-education-it-is-awakening-a-love-for-truth-giving-a/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Today, as never before, the issue is clearly defined-liberty and freedom of choice, or oppression and subjugation for the individual and for nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/today-as-never-before-the-issue-is-clearly-defined-liberty-and/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) [Explore all 188 David O. McKay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. 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