Born Quote by Ivan Illich
“By the early seventeenth century, a new consensus began to arise: the idea that man was born incompetent for society and remained so unless he was provided with 'education.'”
About This Quote
Source Book: Deschooling Society, Ivan Illich, 1971
Education is seen as a remedy for innate human incompetence, implying society must provide structured learning.
In simple terms: Society thinks people need education to function.
Recognize innate abilities before imposing formal schooling.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- school reform
- parenting
- workplace training
- self‑directed learning
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Do we over‑rely on formal education?
- How can innate talents be nurtured?
Education alone cannot guarantee competence without personal motivation.