--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we do not call education is more…" description: "\"What we do not call education is more precious than that which we call so. We form no guess, at the time of receiving a thought, of its comparative val..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_education_what-we-do-not-call-education-is-more-pr_1396336.jpg" --- # What we do not call education is more precious than that… ![“What we do not call education is more precious than that which we call so. We form no guess, at the time of receiving a thought, of its comparative value. And education often wastes its effort in attempts to thwart and balk this natural magnetism, which is sure to select what belongs to it.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_education_what-we-do-not-call-education-is-more-pr_1396336.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_education_what-we-do-not-call-education-is-more-pr_1396336.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_education_what-we-do-not-call-education-is-more-pr_1396336.jpg) > “What we do not call education is more precious than that which we call so. We form no guess, at the time of receiving a thought, of its comparative value. And education often wastes its effort in attempts to thwart and balk this natural magnetism, which is sure to select what belongs to it.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## 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 value the innate worth of ideas rather than imposing external judgments, allowing natural curiosity to guide learning. **In simple terms:** True value of ideas matters more than labels. Key Takeaway Respect and nurture natural curiosity. Themes education curiosity intrinsic value learning mindset Mood thoughtful inspired Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - classroom teaching - self‑directed study - creative projects - critical thinking exercises Key Concepts Humanism epistemology naturalism Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance natural curiosity with rigorous assessment? - What practices protect intrinsic value while ensuring quality? A Different Perspective May overlook the need for critical evaluation and standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education Precious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-precious-3132176/) [Education Wastes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-wastes-4881631/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Magnetism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magnetism/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural Magnetism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-magnetism-4881630/) [Receiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receiving/) [Select](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/select/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Value Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-education-635219/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) ## Related quotes > [I think I have kind of a natural magnetism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/i-think-i-have-kind-of-a-natural-magnetism/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [That which we do not call education is more precious than that which we call so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/that-which-we-do-not-call-education-is-more-precious-than-that-which/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Who shall set a limit to the influence of a human being? There are men, who, by their sympathetic attractions, carry nations withthem, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/who-shall-set-a-limit-to-the-influence-of-a-human-being-there-are-men/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The laws of light and of heat translate each other;-so do the laws of sound and colour; and so galvanism, electricity and magnetism are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-laws-of-light-and-of-heat-translate-each-other-so-do-the-laws-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man's fortunes are the fruit of his character. A man's friends are his magnetisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-s-fortunes-are-the-fruit-of-his-character-a-man-s-friends-are/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [As to methods, there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/as-to-methods-there-may-be-a-million-and-then-some-but-principles-are/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/make-your-own-bible-select-and-collect-all-the-words-and-sentences/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“As illusions go, this one is pretty stubborn. When you’re obsessed with efficiency and productivity, it’s difficult to see the real value of education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/as-illusions-go-this-one-is-pretty-stubborn-when-you-re-obsessed-with/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [I value my education, but I cannot put a value on it. I know it has been worth some money to me - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/i-value-my-education-but-i-cannot-put-a-value-on-it-i-know-it-has/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [It is not so very important for a person to learn facts. For that he does not really need a college. He can learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/it-is-not-so-very-important-for-a-person-to-learn-facts-for-that-he/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [As a high school dropout, I understand the value of education: A second chance at obtaining my high school diploma through the G.I. Bill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/as-a-high-school-dropout-i-understand-the-value-of-education-a-second/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [Herein lies the real value of education. Advanced education may or may not make men and women more efficient; but it enriches personality, increases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lyon-phelps/herein-lies-the-real-value-of-education-advanced-education-may-or-may/) [William Lyon Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lyon-phelps/) > [I was blessed to have a mother and father that recognized the value of education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/i-was-blessed-to-have-a-mother-and-father-that-recognized-the-value/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [I probably didn't put forth the effort I should have put forth, didn't realize the value of education until I went to college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-moyer/i-probably-didn-t-put-forth-the-effort-i-should-have-put-forth-didn-t/) [Jamie Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-moyer/) > [As Minnesotans, we value education and preparing the next generation for success in their careers and their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/as-minnesotans-we-value-education-and-preparing-the-next-generation/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "What we do not call education is more precious than that which we call so. We form no guess, at the time of receiving a thought, of its comparative value. And education often wastes its effort in attempts to thwart and balk this natural magnetism, which is sure to select what belongs to it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-we-do-not-call-education-is-more-precious-than-that-which-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Education" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-we-do-not-call-education-is-more-precious-than-that-which-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_education_what-we-do-not-call-education-is-more-pr_1396336.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_education_what-we-do-not-call-education-is-more-pr_1396336.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_education_what-we-do-not-call-education-is-more-pr_1396336.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we do not call education is more precious than that which we call so. We form no guess, at the time of…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we do not call education...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-we-do-not-call-education-is-more-precious-than-that-which-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-we-do-not-call-education-is-more-precious-than-that-which-we/#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 } } ] } ```