Belief Quote by Robert Dabney
“The instructor has to teach history, cosmogony, psychology, ethics, the laws of nations. How can he do it without saying anything favorable or unfavorable about the beliefs of evangelical Christians, Catholics, Socinians, Deists, pantheists, materialists, or fetish worshipers, who all claim equal rights under American institutions? His teaching will indeed be "the play of Hamlet, with the part of Hamlet omitted."”
About This Quote
The quote critiques the impossibility of teaching history neutrally, given the myriad belief systems that claim equal rights, suggesting any omission is a distortion.
In simple terms: Teaching history without bias is impossible.
Key Takeaway
Strive for balanced, inclusive education.
Themes
education
religion
bias
pluralism
academic freedom
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- classrooms
- curriculum design
- policy debates
Key Concepts
historiography
ethical pedagogy
cultural relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can educators acknowledge bias?
- What role should personal belief play in teaching?
A Different Perspective
Complete neutrality may erase important perspectives.
![“[T]he Rev. R. Taylor, A.M., the Deist, now in gaol, infamously persecuted by the Whigs for his religious opinions, in his learned defense of Deism called the Diegesis, has clearly proved all the heirarchical institutions of the Christians to be a close copy of those of the Essenians of Egypt.” quote by Godfrey Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b6/godfrey-higgins-52829_christian_t-he-rev-r-taylor-a-m-the-deist-now-in-g_679803.jpg)
