---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Public schools are the nurseries of all…"
description: "\"Public schools are the nurseries of all vice and immorality.\" — Henry Fielding"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/henry-fielding-1358_education_public-schools-are-the-nurseries-of-all_2462331.png"
---

#  Public schools are the nurseries of all vice and immorality.

![“Public schools are the nurseries of all vice and immorality.” quote by Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/henry-fielding-1358_education_public-schools-are-the-nurseries-of-all_2462331.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/henry-fielding-1358_education_public-schools-are-the-nurseries-of-all_2462331.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/henry-fielding-1358_education_public-schools-are-the-nurseries-of-all_2462331.png)

> “Public schools are the nurseries of all vice and immorality.”

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

## About This Quote

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

He asserts that public schools foster immoral behavior and vice.

**In simple terms:** Public schools breed immorality.

Key Takeaway

Question educational values.

Themes

education morality society

Mood

critical skeptical

Type

social commentary political

When to use this quote

- school reform
- parental choice
- curriculum design
- community standards

Key Concepts

social criticism institutional critique

Questions to Reflect On

- How do schools influence moral development?
- What alternatives exist for moral education?

A Different Perspective

Not all schools are alike; many provide positive environments.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Immorality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immorality/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Nursery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nursery/) [Public school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-school/) [Public schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-schools/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/)

## Related quotes

> [Let vice and immorality of every kind be discouraged as much as possible in your brigade; and, as a chaplain is allowed to each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/let-vice-and-immorality-of-every-kind-be-discouraged-as-much-as/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [This point seems counter-intuitive, given the amount of conspicuous vulgarity, vice, and immorality in America. Indeed some Islamic fundamentalists argue that their regimes are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/this-point-seems-counter-intuitive-given-the-amount-of-conspicuous/)

[Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/)

> [Education rears disciples, imitators, and routinists, not pioneers of new ideas and creative geniuses. The schools are not nurseries of progress and improvement, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/education-rears-disciples-imitators-and-routinists-not-pioneers-of/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [I am an only child and home-schooled, so I have no siblings or classmates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krohn/i-am-an-only-child-and-home-schooled-so-i-have-no-siblings-or/)

[Jonathan Krohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krohn/)

> [The pupil is ... 'schooled' to confuse teaching with learning, grade advancement with education, a diploma with competence, and fluency with the ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-illich/the-pupil-is-schooled-to-confuse-teaching-with-learning-grade/)

[Ivan Illich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-illich/)

> [“School programs the schooled to type a CV. Life inspires the unschooled to type a business plan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/school-programs-the-schooled-to-type-a-cv-life-inspires-the/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [Nobody sees a flower really,it is so small. We haven't time,and to see takes time- like to have a friend takes time. One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/nobody-sees-a-flower-really-it-is-so-small-we-haven-t-time-and-to-see/)

[Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/)

> [I was a schooled musician. When I made 'Blue Velvet', I told everyone what to do. I was an arranger. I learned music in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-vinton/i-was-a-schooled-musician-when-i-made-blue-velvet-i-told-everyone/)

[Bobby Vinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-vinton/)

> [I was home-schooled. My mom wasn't a fan of public school systems. She was scared of letting me go. So, she home-schooled my siblings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-robertson/i-was-home-schooled-my-mom-wasn-t-a-fan-of-public-school-systems-she/)

[Britt Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-robertson/)

> [The only people who seem to have nothing to do with the education of the children are the parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-only-people-who-seem-to-have-nothing-to-do-with-the-education-of/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [When I speak about attention, I mean literally, "How much attention can we pay to ourselves?" As children, sometimes we cannot hold our attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-medicine-eagle/when-i-speak-about-attention-i-mean-literally-how-much-attention-can/)

Brooke Medicine Eagle

> [I remember that I was never able to get along at school. I was at the foot of the class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-remember-that-i-was-never-able-to-get-along-at-school-i-was-at-the/)

[Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/)

> [The value of a dollar is to buy just things; a dollar goes on increasing in value with all the genius and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-value-of-a-dollar-is-to-buy-just-things-a-dollar-goes-on/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-green/some-kinds-of-activists-are-more-willing-to-try-stuff-out-see-if/)

[Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-green/)

> [I've been home-schooled since I was in the fifth grade, mainly because I had two brothers who were acting. We were from Kansas but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-schmidt/i-ve-been-home-schooled-since-i-was-in-the-fifth-grade-mainly-because/)

[Kevin Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-schmidt/)

## More by Henry Fielding

> [“Though Jones had formerly believed himself in the very prime of youth and vigor, his first encounter with Lady Bellaston both vexed and puzzled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/though-jones-had-formerly-believed-himself-in-the-very-prime-of-youth/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [A good man therefore is a standing lesson to us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-good-man-therefore-is-a-standing-lesson-to-us-all/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [Good-breeding is not confined to externals, much less to any particular dress or attitude of the body; it is the art of pleasing, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/good-breeding-is-not-confined-to-externals-much-less-to-any/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [Adversity is the trial of principle. Without it, a man hardly knows whether he is honest or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/adversity-is-the-trial-of-principle-without-it-a-man-hardly-knows/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [Sir, money, money, the most charming of all things; money, which will say more in one moment than the most elegant lover can in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/sir-money-money-the-most-charming-of-all-things-money-which-will-say/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [The greatest part of mankind labor under one delirium or another; and Don Quixote differed from the rest, not in madness, but the species…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-greatest-part-of-mankind-labor-under-one-delirium-or-another-and/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [Want compassion is not to be numbered among the general faults of mankind. The black ingredient which fouls our disposition is envy. Hence our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/want-compassion-is-not-to-be-numbered-among-the-general-faults-of/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [It is well known to all great men, that by conferring an obligation they do not always procure a friend, but are certain of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/it-is-well-known-to-all-great-men-that-by-conferring-an-obligation/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [One fool at least in every married couple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/one-fool-at-least-in-every-married-couple/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [A lover, when he is admitted to cards, ought to be solemnly silent, and observe the motions of his mistress. He must laugh when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-lover-when-he-is-admitted-to-cards-ought-to-be-solemnly-silent-and/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [If you make money your god, it will plague you like the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/if-you-make-money-your-god-it-will-plague-you-like-the-devil/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [As a conquered rebellion strengthens a government, or as health is more perfectly established by recovery from some diseases; so anger, when removed, often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/as-a-conquered-rebellion-strengthens-a-government-or-as-health-is/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [A wonder lasts but nine days, and then the puppy's eyes are open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-wonder-lasts-but-nine-days-and-then-the-puppy-s-eyes-are-open/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [Custom may lead a man into many errors; but it justifies none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/custom-may-lead-a-man-into-many-errors-but-it-justifies-none/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [A grave aspect to a grave character is of much more consequence than the world is generally aware of; a barber may make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-grave-aspect-to-a-grave-character-is-of-much-more-consequence-than/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

[Explore all 246 Henry Fielding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

## More Education quotes

> [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/)

Ted Martinez

> [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. Otherwise the world would be full of millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-school-you-are-taught-to-obey-and-not-to-think-straight-for-your/)

[Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/)

> [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/)

[Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/)

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/)

Ioannes Amos Commenius

> [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/)

H.D. (Hilda Doolittle

> [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/)

[Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/)

> [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/)

[Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/)

> [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/)

[Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/)

[Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Public schools are the nurseries of all vice and immorality.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Henry Fielding"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/public-schools-are-the-nurseries-of-all-vice-and-immorality/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Education"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/public-schools-are-the-nurseries-of-all-vice-and-immorality/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/henry-fielding-1358_education_public-schools-are-the-nurseries-of-all_2462331.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/henry-fielding-1358_education_public-schools-are-the-nurseries-of-all_2462331.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/henry-fielding-1358_education_public-schools-are-the-nurseries-of-all_2462331.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Public schools are the nurseries of all vice and immorality.” — Henry Fielding",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Henry Fielding",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Public schools are the nurseries of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/public-schools-are-the-nurseries-of-all-vice-and-immorality/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/public-schools-are-the-nurseries-of-all-vice-and-immorality/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```