--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am not fully informed of the practices…" description: "\"I am not fully informed of the practices at Harvard, but there is one from which we shall certainly vary, although it has been copied, I believe, by ne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/thomas-jefferson-43_academy_i-am-not-fully-informed-of-the-practices_382775.jpg" --- # I am not fully informed of the practices at Harvard, but… ![“I am not fully informed of the practices at Harvard, but there is one from which we shall certainly vary, although it has been copied, I believe, by nearly every college and academy in the United States. That is, the holding the students all to one prescribed course of reading, and disallowing…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/thomas-jefferson-43_academy_i-am-not-fully-informed-of-the-practices_382775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/thomas-jefferson-43_academy_i-am-not-fully-informed-of-the-practices_382775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/thomas-jefferson-43_academy_i-am-not-fully-informed-of-the-practices_382775.jpg) > “I am not fully informed of the practices at Harvard, but there is one from which we shall certainly vary, although it has been copied, I believe, by nearly every college and academy in the United States. That is, the holding the students all to one prescribed course of reading, and disallowing exclusive application to those branches only which are to qualify them for the particular vocations to which they are destined. We shall, on the contrary, allow them uncontrolled choice in the lectures they shall choose to attend, and require elementary qualification only, and sufficient age.” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates educational freedom, opposing a single prescribed curriculum for all students. **In simple terms:** Promotes choice in learning. Key Takeaway Allow students to choose courses. Themes education freedom curriculum choice Mood reflective inquisitive Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - high school planning - college course selection - career counseling - self-directed learning Key Concepts liberal arts personal development vocational training Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance choice with essential skills? - What safeguards ensure core competencies? A Different Perspective May lead to gaps in foundational knowledge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Academy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academy/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Application](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/application/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Branches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/branches/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Destined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destined/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Exclusive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exclusive/) [Free thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-thought/) [Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard/) [Harvard Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard-shall-3467722/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Lectures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lectures/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Practices Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practices-harvard-3467721/) [Qualifications](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualifications/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading Disallowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-disallowing-3467724/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Students Prescribed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students-prescribed-3467723/) [Sufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufficient/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Vary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vary/) [Vocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation/) ## Related quotes > [for the present we may groupe the sciences into Professorships as follows, subject however to be changed according to the qualifications of the persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/for-the-present-we-may-groupe-the-sciences-into-professorships-as/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Drawing ... is an innocent & engaging amusement, often useful, and a qualification not to be neglected in one who is to become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/drawing-is-an-innocent-engaging-amusement-often-useful-and-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I have so much confidence in the good sense of man, and his qualifications for self-government, that I am never afraid of the issue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-so-much-confidence-in-the-good-sense-of-man-and-his/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [the qualifications for self-government in society are not innate. they are the result of habit and long training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-qualifications-for-self-government-in-society-are-not-innate-they/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [To speak his thoughts is every freeman's right, in peace and war, in council and in fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/to-speak-his-thoughts-is-every-freeman-s-right-in-peace-and-war-in/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [To later Romans Ennius was the personification of the spirit of early Rome; by them he was called "The Father of Roman Poetry." We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintus-ennius/to-later-romans-ennius-was-the-personification-of-the-spirit-of-early/) [Quintus Ennius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintus-ennius/) > [You behold in me, Stephen said with grim displeasure, a horrible example of free thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/you-behold-in-me-stephen-said-with-grim-displeasure-a-horrible/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“It is clear that thought is not free if the profession of certain opinions makes it impossible to earn a living. It is clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-is-clear-that-thought-is-not-free-if-the-profession-of-certain-2/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It should seem that Negroes, of all Americans, would be found in the Free-thought fold, since they have suffered more than any other class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-harrison/it-should-seem-that-negroes-of-all-americans-would-be-found-in-the/) [Hubert Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-harrison/) > [Our thoughts are free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/our-thoughts-are-free/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I was ready to talk about... and I'm ready to die on the hills of due process, individualism, and free thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/i-was-ready-to-talk-about-and-i-m-ready-to-die-on-the-hills-of-due/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [“Freedom is not an idea; a philosophy written about freedom is not freedom. Either one is free or one is not. One is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/freedom-is-not-an-idea-a-philosophy-written-about-freedom-is-not/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I deny the right of Congress to force a slaveholding State upon an unwilling people. I deny their right to force a free State…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-douglas/i-deny-the-right-of-congress-to-force-a-slaveholding-state-upon-an/) [Stephen A. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-douglas/) > [“Try a little experiment. Close your eyes and say to yourself: “I wonder what my next thought is going to be.” Then become very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/try-a-little-experiment-close-your-eyes-and-say-to-yourself-i-wonder/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Bertrand Russell:   The expression “free thought” is often used as if it meant merely opposition to the prevailing orthodoxy. But this is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-m-s-pearce/bertrand-russell-the-expression-free-thought-is-often-used-as-if-it/) [Jonathan M.S. Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-m-s-pearce/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Explore all 2,098 Thomas Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More Academy quotes > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [Don't be pretentious is my first advice to young writers. This is the big problem - just because you're getting an MFA doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/don-t-be-pretentious-is-my-first-advice-to-young-writers-this-is-the/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [I realized early on that the academy and the literary world alike - and I don't think there really is a distinction between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/i-realized-early-on-that-the-academy-and-the-literary-world-alike-and/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [“Step Up Academy offers a conducive, encouraging, comfortable environment for children to step up their learning and achieve success. Our students progress within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerthiga-manokumar/step-up-academy-offers-a-conducive-encouraging-comfortable/) [Kerthiga Manokumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerthiga-manokumar/) > [I remember when I first won the Academy Award and how much I loved it. I just wish there was an award around that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-woodward/i-remember-when-i-first-won-the-academy-award-and-how-much-i-loved-it/) [Joanne Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-woodward/) > [Few years ago, I said something about the Academy being very white male, which is the reality, and I was slashed to pieces by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-delpy/few-years-ago-i-said-something-about-the-academy-being-very-white/) [Julie Delpy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-delpy/) > [I think that no matter whether you're Quentin Tarantino or any other kind of a rebel, or whatever, everyone who makes movies still wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-osborne/i-think-that-no-matter-whether-you-re-quentin-tarantino-or-any-other/) [Robert Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-osborne/) > [“Fuck Briarcrest Academy, and fuck you all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilsa-madden-mills/fuck-briarcrest-academy-and-fuck-you-all/) [Ilsa Madden-Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilsa-madden-mills/) > [I don't really look forward to movie stardom or doing a $200-million movie or winning an Academy Award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-taylor/i-don-t-really-look-forward-to-movie-stardom-or-doing-a-200-million/) [Rachael Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-taylor/) > [I am an outsider looking in, absolutely. You're not going to see me at the Academy Awards 'Vanity Fair' party any time soon. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-am-an-outsider-looking-in-absolutely-you-re-not-going-to-see-me-at/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [In all our academies we attempt far too much. ... In earlier times lectures were delivered upon chemistry and botany as branches of medicine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/in-all-our-academies-we-attempt-far-too-much-in-earlier-times/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The 'Police Academy' stuff was all hyper-slapsticky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/the-police-academy-stuff-was-all-hyper-slapsticky/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [The Academies of Art are nothing but great painting factories - those with talent are fed in at one end, and they come out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edvard-munch/the-academies-of-art-are-nothing-but-great-painting-factories-those/) [Edvard Munch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edvard-munch/) > [Furnished as all Europe now is with Academies of Science, with nice instruments and the spirit of experiment, the progress of human knowledge will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/furnished-as-all-europe-now-is-with-academies-of-science-with-nice/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Browse all 557 Academy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am not fully informed of the practices at Harvard, but there is one from which we shall certainly vary, although it has been copied, I believe, by nearly every college and academy in the United States. 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