Brainwashing Quote by H.L. Mencken
““In brief, the teaching process, as commonly observed, has nothing to do with the investigation and establishment of facts, assuming that actual facts may ever be determined. Its sole purpose is to cram the pupils, as rapidly and as painlessly as possible, with the largest conceivable outfit of current axioms, in all departments of human thought—to make the pupil a good citizen, which is to say, a citizen differing as little as possible, in positive knowledge and habits of mind, from all other citizens. In other words, it is the mission of the pedagogue, not to make his pupils think, but to make them think right, and the more nearly his own mind pulsates with the great ebbs and flows of popular delusion and emotion, the more admirably he performs his function. He may be an ass, but this is surely no demerit in a man paid to make asses of his customers.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The American Language” (1921)
The author critiques education as rote memorization of accepted ideas, discouraging independent thought and conformity to prevailing opinions.
In simple terms: Education often forces conformity over critical thinking.
Key Takeaway
Encourage questioning over memorization.
Themes
education
conformity
critical thinking
authority
mindset
Mood
skeptical
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- teacher training
- parental expectations
- policy reform
Key Concepts
pedagogy
social conditioning
intellectual autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can curricula balance knowledge acquisition with fostering independent thought?
- What role should teachers play in challenging popular delusions?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook the need for foundational knowledge before critical inquiry.
![“Socrates and then Archesilaus used to make their pupils speak first; they spoke afterwards. 'Obest plerumque iss discere volunt authoritas eorum qui docent.' [For those who want to learn, the obstacle can often be the authority of those who teach]” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/05d/michel-de-montaigne-142_authority_socrates-and-then-archesilaus-used-to-ma_751517.jpg)
![“If there had been any formidable body of cannibals in the country he [Harry Truman] would have promised to provide them with free missionaries, fattened at the taxpayers’ expense.” quote by H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e7/h-l-mencken-2-5374_harry-truman_if-there-had-been-any-formidable-body-of_142631.jpg)
