--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The day is past when schools could afford…" description: "\"The day is past when schools could afford to give sufficient time and attention to the teaching of the ancient languages to enable the student to get t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/james-loeb-54944_ancient_the-day-is-past-when-schools-could-affor_2634203.png" --- # The day is past when schools could afford to give… ![“The day is past when schools could afford to give sufficient time and attention to the teaching of the ancient languages to enable the student to get that enjoyment out of classical literature that made the lives of our grandfathers so rich.” quote by James Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/james-loeb-54944_ancient_the-day-is-past-when-schools-could-affor_2634203.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/james-loeb-54944_ancient_the-day-is-past-when-schools-could-affor_2634203.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/james-loeb-54944_ancient_the-day-is-past-when-schools-could-affor_2634203.png) > “The day is past when schools could afford to give sufficient time and attention to the teaching of the ancient languages to enable the student to get that enjoyment out of classical literature that made the lives of our grandfathers so rich.” [James Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-loeb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Education once prioritized deep study of ancient languages, enriching students' appreciation of classical literature and cultural heritage. **In simple terms:** Classical study once enriched learning. Key Takeaway Revive deep engagement with classics. Themes education culture heritage literature language Mood nostalgic reflective Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - school curricula - college liberal arts - personal enrichment - teaching methods Key Concepts Humanities classical studies cultural transmission Questions to Reflect On - How can schools balance STEM and humanities? - What benefits arise from studying ancient languages? A Different Perspective Modern curricula often favor STEM, reducing time for classics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Ancient Languages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-languages-1086574/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Classical literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical-literature/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Grandfather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandfather/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Student Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student-enjoyment-2214742/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Sufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufficient/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Teaching Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-ancient-2214741/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“There is no better recreation for the mind than the study of the ancient classics. Take any one of them into your hand, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/there-is-no-better-recreation-for-the-mind-than-the-study-of-the/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“It may be worth while to illustrate this view of classification, by taking the case of languages. If we possessed a perfect pedigree of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/it-may-be-worth-while-to-illustrate-this-view-of-classification-by/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [The classical scholars have kept alive the tradition of the superiority of the ancient languages -- a kaleidoscopic mass of suffixes and prefixes, supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/the-classical-scholars-have-kept-alive-the-tradition-of-the/) [Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/) > [The surest method of being incomprehensible or, moreover, to be misunderstood is to use words in their original sense; especially words from the ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/the-surest-method-of-being-incomprehensible-or-moreover-to-be/) [Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/) > [The knowledge of the ancient languages is mainly a luxury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/the-knowledge-of-the-ancient-languages-is-mainly-a-luxury/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [I do not read the ancient languages, but I am beginning to study Greek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-do-not-read-the-ancient-languages-but-i-am-beginning-to-study-greek/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [To view an object in the proper light we must stand away from it. The study of the classical literatures gives the aloofness which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/to-view-an-object-in-the-proper-light-we-must-stand-away-from-it-the/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [“And let Apollo drive Prince Hector back to battle, breathe power back in his lungs, make him forget the pain that racks his heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/and-let-apollo-drive-prince-hector-back-to-battle-breathe-power-back/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [The road has been viewed as a male turf. If you think of the classic "Odyssey," of, you know, classical literature or Jack Kerouac…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/the-road-has-been-viewed-as-a-male-turf-if-you-think-of-the-classic/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Writing detective stories is about writing light literature, for entertainment. It isn't primarily a question of writing propaganda or classical literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/writing-detective-stories-is-about-writing-light-literature-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I want to tell you something but good taste Restrains me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sappho-van-lesbos/i-want-to-tell-you-something-but-good-taste-restrains-me/) [Sappho van Lesbos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sappho-van-lesbos/) > [Some of what we read in classical literature is not relative to our condition, but then many women novelists and poets have turned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-drabble/some-of-what-we-read-in-classical-literature-is-not-relative-to-our/) [Margaret Drabble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-drabble/) > [“I happened to pen some literature, alas, in an utterly unliterary era.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/i-happened-to-pen-some-literature-alas-in-an-utterly-unliterary-era/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“The classical literature in psychology describes the relationship between anxiety and performance, including mental performance, in terms of an upside-down U. At the peak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-classical-literature-in-psychology-describes-the-relationship/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [“The policemen agreed they were living with a most peculiar fellow. One moment he was reading classical literature in the original French and quoting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-macintyre/the-policemen-agreed-they-were-living-with-a-most-peculiar-fellow-one/) [Ben MacIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-macintyre/) ## More by James Loeb > [Wherever modern translations of marked excellence were already in existence efforts were made to secure them for the Library, but in a number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-loeb/wherever-modern-translations-of-marked-excellence-were-already-in/) [James Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-loeb/) > [Before venturing on so large an undertaking as is involved in the task I had set myself I consulted a number of distinguished scholars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-loeb/before-venturing-on-so-large-an-undertaking-as-is-involved-in-the/) [James Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-loeb/) > [It has always seemed to me a pity that the young people of our generation should grow up with such scant knowledge of Greek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-loeb/it-has-always-seemed-to-me-a-pity-that-the-young-people-of-our/) [James Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-loeb/) > [The mechanical and social achievements of our day must not blind our eyes to the fact that, in all that relates to man, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-loeb/the-mechanical-and-social-achievements-of-our-day-must-not-blind-our/) [James Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-loeb/) > [I therefore set to work, and after two and a half years of not inconsiderable labour I now have the privilege and the satisfaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-loeb/i-therefore-set-to-work-and-after-two-and-a-half-years-of-not/) [James Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-loeb/) [Explore all 6 James Loeb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-loeb/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [All the stories I have told you are finally as useless as all ancient knowledge is to man and to us. Its images and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/all-the-stories-i-have-told-you-are-finally-as-useless-as-all-ancient/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) [Browse all 2,415 Ancient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The day is past when schools could afford to give sufficient time and attention to the teaching of the ancient languages to enable the student to get that enjoyment out of classical literature that made the lives of our grandfathers so rich.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Loeb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-loeb/the-day-is-past-when-schools-could-afford-to-give-sufficient-time-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ancient" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-loeb/the-day-is-past-when-schools-could-afford-to-give-sufficient-time-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/james-loeb-54944_ancient_the-day-is-past-when-schools-could-affor_2634203.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/james-loeb-54944_ancient_the-day-is-past-when-schools-could-affor_2634203.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/james-loeb-54944_ancient_the-day-is-past-when-schools-could-affor_2634203.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The day is past when schools could afford to give sufficient time and attention to the teaching of the…” — James Loeb", "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": "James Loeb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-loeb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The day is past when schools...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-loeb/the-day-is-past-when-schools-could-afford-to-give-sufficient-time-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-loeb/the-day-is-past-when-schools-could-afford-to-give-sufficient-time-and/#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 } } ] } ```