Adult life Quote by Rebecca Goldstein
““In Greek, our word for play is paidia and the word for education is paideia, and it is very natural and right that these words should be entangled at the root, together with our word for children, paides, which gave you your words pedagogy and pediatrician.14 What one tries to force into a child against its own nature will never come to good. A child’s natural form of behavior is play, and in our aim to educate, play should be honored and preserved for as long past childhood as can be. So we may say, in fact, the sum and substance of education is the right training that effectually leads the soul of the child at play on to the love of the calling in its adult life (Laws 643d).””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Philosophy of Play, Rebecca Goldstein, 2015
Education should nurture a child’s innate playfulness, aligning learning with natural curiosity rather than forced discipline.
In simple terms: Learning works best when it feels like play.
Key Takeaway
Honor play in teaching.
Themes
education
play
child development
learning
creativity
Mood
joyful
inspired
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- classroom teaching
- parental guidance
- after‑school clubs
- curriculum design
Key Concepts
pedagogy
intrinsic motivation
holistic growth
Questions to Reflect On
- How can educators embed play without diluting academic rigor?
- What playful activities best reveal a child's passions?
A Different Perspective
If play is overly structured, it may lose its spontaneity and become counterproductive.
