--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How fortunate for civilization, that…" description: "\"How fortunate for civilization, that Beethoven, Michelangelo, Galileo and Faraday were not required by law to attend schools where their total personal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/joel-henry-hildebrand-36715_acceptable_how-fortunate-for-civilization-that-beet_420709.png" --- # How fortunate for civilization, that Beethoven… ![“How fortunate for civilization, that Beethoven, Michelangelo, Galileo and Faraday were not required by law to attend schools where their total personalities would have been operated upon to make them learn acceptable ways of participating as members of "the group."” quote by Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/joel-henry-hildebrand-36715_acceptable_how-fortunate-for-civilization-that-beet_420709.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/joel-henry-hildebrand-36715_acceptable_how-fortunate-for-civilization-that-beet_420709.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/joel-henry-hildebrand-36715_acceptable_how-fortunate-for-civilization-that-beet_420709.png) > “How fortunate for civilization, that Beethoven, Michelangelo, Galileo and Faraday were not required by law to attend schools where their total personalities would have been operated upon to make them learn acceptable ways of participating as members of "the group."” [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great thinkers thrived because they weren’t forced into conformist schooling that would suppress their unique personalities. **In simple terms:** Great minds succeeded without forced, conformist schooling. Key Takeaway Encourage educational freedom that nurtures individuality. Themes education creativity individuality Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical activist When to use this quote - school reform - parenting - mentoring - policy making - creative workshops Key Concepts philosophy history of science Questions to Reflect On - How might modern education limit creativity? - What alternatives foster independent thinking? A Different Perspective Rigid schooling can stifle innovation and personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptable/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilization Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-beethoven-3730595/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Fortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunate/) [Fortunate Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunate-civilization-3730594/) [Galileo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/galileo/) [Galileo Faraday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/galileo-faraday-3730597/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/members/) [Michelangelo Galileo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michelangelo-galileo-3730596/) [Operations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operations/) [Participating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participating/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“This is Galileo,” said Aristotle. “He advocates understanding the world through observation and experiment. He is an unimaginative thinker, but his results demand our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-cixin/this-is-galileo-said-aristotle-he-advocates-understanding-the-world/) [Liu Cixin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-cixin/) > [“Misunderstood! It is a right fool's word. Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/misunderstood-it-is-a-right-fool-s-word-is-it-so-bad-then-to-be/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“You and Galileo,” I said. “Didn’t he throw his balls off the leaning tower?” Quirk Said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/you-and-galileo-i-said-didn-t-he-throw-his-balls-off-the-leaning/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [“Galileo got into trouble because he maintained that since the new discoveries seemed to contradict scripture, those passages of scripture should be reinterpreted in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-coren/galileo-got-into-trouble-because-he-maintained-that-since-the-new/) [Michael Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-coren/) > [“Galileo once wrote, "You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/galileo-once-wrote-you-cannot-teach-a-man-anything-you-can-only-help/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Anthropology found its Galileo in Rivers, its Newton in Mauss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-levi-strauss/anthropology-found-its-galileo-in-rivers-its-newton-in-mauss/) [Claude Levi-Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-levi-strauss/) > [“So this is where all the vapid talk about the 'soul' of the universe is actually headed. Once the hard-won principles of reason and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/so-this-is-where-all-the-vapid-talk-about-the-soul-of-the-universe-is/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Galileo was challenged because he declared a theory to be a fact and argued with the Church about the genuine meaning of the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-coren/galileo-was-challenged-because-he-declared-a-theory-to-be-a-fact-and/) [Michael Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-coren/) > [I live on the other side of Copernicus and Galileo; I can no longer conceive of God as sort of above the sky, looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-live-on-the-other-side-of-copernicus-and-galileo-i-can-no-longer/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [We owe a huge debt to Galileo for emancipating us all from the stupid belief in an Earth-centered or man-centered (let alone God-centered) system.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/we-owe-a-huge-debt-to-galileo-for-emancipating-us-all-from-the-stupid/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [A man does not attain the status of Galileo merely because he is persecuted; he must also be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/a-man-does-not-attain-the-status-of-galileo-merely-because-he-is/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [“The biblical account of the origin of the cosmos in Genesis, for example, posits that a god created the physical universe particularly with human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-maudlin/the-biblical-account-of-the-origin-of-the-cosmos-in-genesis-for/) [Tim Maudlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-maudlin/) > [Galileo was no idiot. Only an idiot could believe that science requires martyrdom - that may be necessary in religion, but in time a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/galileo-was-no-idiot-only-an-idiot-could-believe-that-science/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) > [If Galileo had said in verse that the world moved, the inquisition might have let him alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/if-galileo-had-said-in-verse-that-the-world-moved-the-inquisition/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [By night the Glass Of Galileo ... observes Imagin'd Land and Regions in the Moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/by-night-the-glass-of-galileo-observes-imagin-d-land-and-regions-in/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## More by Joel Henry Hildebrand > [We must protect each other against the attacks of those self-appointed watchdogs of patriotism now abroad in the land who irresponsibly pin red labels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/we-must-protect-each-other-against-the-attacks-of-those-self/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [That there is no such thing as the scientific method, one might easily discover by asking several scientists to define it. One would find,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/that-there-is-no-such-thing-as-the-scientific-method-one-might-easily/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [\[About the demand of the Board of Regents of the University of California that professors sign non-Communist loyalty oaths or lose their jobs within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/about-the-demand-of-the-board-of-regents-of-the-university-of/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [ \[When questioned on his longevity\] First of all, I selected my ancestors very wisely. ... They were long-lived, healthy people. Then, as a chemist,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/when-questioned-on-his-longevity-first-of-all-i-selected-my-ancestors/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [ \[I shall not\] discuss scientific method, but rather the methods of scientists. We proceed by common sense and ingenuity. There are no rules, only… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/i-shall-not-discuss-scientific-method-but-rather-the-methods-of/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [Instead of adjusting students to docile membership in whatever group they happen to be placed, we should equip them to cope with their environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/instead-of-adjusting-students-to-docile-membership-in-whatever-group/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [The invention of IQ did a great disservice to creativity in education. ... Individuality, personality, originality, are too precious to be meddled with by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/the-invention-of-iq-did-a-great-disservice-to-creativity-in-education/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [The members of the department became like the Athenians who, according to the Apostle Paul, "spent their time in nothing else, but either to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/the-members-of-the-department-became-like-the-athenians-who-according/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [The best person able to appraise promise as a mathematician is a gifted teacher, and not a professional tester.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/the-best-person-able-to-appraise-promise-as-a-mathematician-is-a/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [Anyone who thinks we can continue to have world wars but make them nice polite affairs by outlawing this weapon or that should meditate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/anyone-who-thinks-we-can-continue-to-have-world-wars-but-make-them/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [A child of the new generation Refused to learn multiplication. He said 'Don't conclude That I'm stupid or rude; I am simply without motivation.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/a-child-of-the-new-generation-refused-to-learn-multiplication-he-said/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) [Explore all 12 Joel Henry Hildebrand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) ## More Acceptable quotes > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. 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It furnishes examples of holy living, and displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-study-of-freemasonry-is-the-study-of-man-as-a-candidate-for-a/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. 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Which is why our actions must always be acceptable in themselves, and not as strategies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-heilbrun/we-cannot-guess-the-outcome-of-our-actions-which-is-why-our-actions/) [Carolyn Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-heilbrun/) > [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [It's horrible how money and fame can make you acceptable while, if you're not famous or rich, you're not acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/it-s-horrible-how-money-and-fame-can-make-you-acceptable-while-if-you/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [We get used to a certain kind of colour of form or format, and it's acceptable. And to puncture that is sticking your neck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/we-get-used-to-a-certain-kind-of-colour-of-form-or-format-and-it-s/) [Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/) [Browse all 750 Acceptable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How fortunate for civilization, that Beethoven, Michelangelo, Galileo and Faraday were not required by law to attend schools where their total personalities would have been operated upon to make them learn acceptable ways of participating as members of \"the group.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joel Henry Hildebrand" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/how-fortunate-for-civilization-that-beethoven-michelangelo-galileo/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/how-fortunate-for-civilization-that-beethoven-michelangelo-galileo/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/joel-henry-hildebrand-36715_acceptable_how-fortunate-for-civilization-that-beet_420709.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/joel-henry-hildebrand-36715_acceptable_how-fortunate-for-civilization-that-beet_420709.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/joel-henry-hildebrand-36715_acceptable_how-fortunate-for-civilization-that-beet_420709.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How fortunate for civilization, that Beethoven, Michelangelo, Galileo and Faraday were not required by law…” — Joel Henry Hildebrand", "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": "Joel Henry Hildebrand", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "How fortunate for civilization, that Beethoven,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/how-fortunate-for-civilization-that-beethoven-michelangelo-galileo/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/how-fortunate-for-civilization-that-beethoven-michelangelo-galileo/#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 } } ] } ```