---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A principal aim of education is to give…"
description: "\"A principal aim of education is to give students a taste for literature, for the books of life and power, and to accomplish this, it is necessary that ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_able_a-principal-aim-of-education-is-to-give_2902973.jpg"
---

#  A principal aim of education is to give students a taste…

![“A principal aim of education is to give students a taste for literature, for the books of life and power, and to accomplish this, it is necessary that their minds be held aloof from the babblement and discussions of the hour, that they may accustom themselves to take interest in the words and…” quote by John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_able_a-principal-aim-of-education-is-to-give_2902973.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_able_a-principal-aim-of-education-is-to-give_2902973.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_able_a-principal-aim-of-education-is-to-give_2902973.jpg)

> “A principal aim of education is to give students a taste for literature, for the books of life and power, and to accomplish this, it is necessary that their minds be held aloof from the babblement and discussions of the hour, that they may accustom themselves to take interest in the words and deeds of the greatest men, and so make themselves able and worthy to shape a larger and nobler future; but if their hours of leisure are spent over journals and reviews, they will, in later years, become the helpless victims of the newspaper habit.”

[John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/)

## About This Quote

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

Education should inspire love for literature and great deeds, not be distracted by fleeting media.

**In simple terms:** Focus education on timeless works, not current trends.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize classic learning.

Themes

education literature values

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

educational philosophical

When to use this quote

- school curriculum
- personal development
- media consumption

Key Concepts

humanism intellectual growth

Questions to Reflect On

- How can schools balance classic and contemporary texts?
- What habits hinder intellectual growth?

A Different Perspective

Modern media can dilute deep thinking.

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