---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have ignored cultural literacy in…"
description: "\"We have ignored cultural literacy in thinking about education We ignore the air we breathe until it is thin or foul. Cultural literacy is the oxygen of..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/e-d-hirsch-jr-65354_air_we-have-ignored-cultural-literacy-in-thi_2622087.jpg"
---

#  We have ignored cultural literacy in thinking about…

![“We have ignored cultural literacy in thinking about education We ignore the air we breathe until it is thin or foul. Cultural literacy is the oxygen of social intercourse.” quote by E. D. Hirsch, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/e-d-hirsch-jr-65354_air_we-have-ignored-cultural-literacy-in-thi_2622087.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/e-d-hirsch-jr-65354_air_we-have-ignored-cultural-literacy-in-thi_2622087.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/e-d-hirsch-jr-65354_air_we-have-ignored-cultural-literacy-in-thi_2622087.jpg)

> “We have ignored cultural literacy in thinking about education We ignore the air we breathe until it is thin or foul. Cultural literacy is the oxygen of social intercourse.”

E. D. Hirsch, Jr

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Cultural knowledge is essential for social interaction, like oxygen for breathing.

**In simple terms:** Culture is social oxygen.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate broad cultural knowledge.

Themes

education literacy social capital

Mood

analytical concerned

Type

educational philosophical

When to use this quote

- teaching curricula
- media consumption
- community dialogue

Key Concepts

Cultural capital knowledge ecosystems

Questions to Reflect On

- What cultural gaps exist in your community?
- How can you broaden your literacy?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on “culture” can marginalize alternative knowledge.

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[Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Intercourse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intercourse/) [Literacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literacy/) [Oxygen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oxygen/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

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