--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The least of learning is done in the…" description: "\"“The least of learning is done in the classrooms. ”\" — Thomas Merton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/thomas-merton-231_education_the-least-of-learning-is-done-in-the-cla_1654926.jpg" --- # The least of learning is done in the classrooms. ![“The least of learning is done in the classrooms.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/thomas-merton-231_education_the-least-of-learning-is-done-in-the-cla_1654926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/thomas-merton-231_education_the-least-of-learning-is-done-in-the-cla_1654926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/thomas-merton-231_education_the-least-of-learning-is-done-in-the-cla_1654926.jpg) > ““The least of learning is done in the classrooms. ”” [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning occurs most profoundly outside formal classrooms, through lived experience and personal reflection. **In simple terms:** Learning happens best outside school. Key Takeaway Seek knowledge in daily life. Themes education experience self‑directed learning Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - travel - volunteering - personal projects - informal mentorship Key Concepts experiential learning autodidactism Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate learning into everyday tasks? - What informal sources have taught you most? A Different Perspective Formal education still provides structure and credentials. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Classrooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classrooms/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) ## Related quotes > [The least of the work of learning is done in classrooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-least-of-the-work-of-learning-is-done-in-classrooms/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Teachers craft classrooms that are good matches for their teaching styles as well as for learner needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-tomlinson/teachers-craft-classrooms-that-are-good-matches-for-their-teaching/) [Carol Ann Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-tomlinson/) > [If they believe only what they can see, why do we have classrooms?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yul-brynner/if-they-believe-only-what-they-can-see-why-do-we-have-classrooms/) [Yul Brynner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yul-brynner/) > [“All I know is that right now I wanna rip your clothes off right here in the middle of this hall and throw you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/all-i-know-is-that-right-now-i-wanna-rip-your-clothes-off-right-here/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [Keeping our kids out of classrooms is damaging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-williamson/keeping-our-kids-out-of-classrooms-is-damaging/) [Gavin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-williamson/) > [In classrooms full of students who range from brilliant to sullen disaffection, it's games - and often games alone - that I've seen engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-chatfield/in-classrooms-full-of-students-who-range-from-brilliant-to-sullen/) [Tom Chatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-chatfield/) > [“There aren't many classrooms in the school basement. Most of the space is for storage and utilities. As far as student use goes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/there-aren-t-many-classrooms-in-the-school-basement-most-of-the-space/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“When we introduce new technologies into our classrooms we are teaching our students twice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-joseph-brown/when-we-introduce-new-technologies-into-our-classrooms-we-are/) Michael Joseph Brown > [I consider this world to be like a school and our lives to be the classrooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-consider-this-world-to-be-like-a-school-and-our-lives-to-be-the/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Cameras in classrooms are no substitute for greater authority by parents and teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weyrich/cameras-in-classrooms-are-no-substitute-for-greater-authority-by/) [Paul Weyrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weyrich/) > [While classrooms will be in use for many years to come, their value will diminish quickly as the online options become more pervasive. Many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frey/while-classrooms-will-be-in-use-for-many-years-to-come-their-value/) [Thomas Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frey/) > [To build a more healthy, peaceful and equitable world the classrooms of the world have to be full of girls as well as boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/to-build-a-more-healthy-peaceful-and-equitable-world-the-classrooms/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [In the depth of the near depression, that he faced when he came in, Barack Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress provided 'recovery funds'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/in-the-depth-of-the-near-depression-that-he-faced-when-he-came-in/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [If you could draw a picture of the best high school in the world - where all the teachers are wonderful and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/if-you-could-draw-a-picture-of-the-best-high-school-in-the-world/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I've never been pigeonholed and I've experienced so many different kinds of skin - what man will do and won't do, what you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-never-been-pigeonholed-and-i-ve-experienced-so-many-different/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. For the beginning of humility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-almost-impossible-to-overestimate-the-value-of-true-humility/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [We are not perfectly free until we live in pure hope. 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But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/peace-cannot-be-built-on-exclusivism-absolutism-and-intolerance-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love winter when the plant says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-winter-when-the-plant-says-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wisdom of the flesh is a judgement that the ordinary ends of our natural appetites are the goods to which the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wisdom-of-the-flesh-is-a-judgement-that-the-ordinary-ends-of-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-you-write-for-god-you-will-reach-many-men-and-bring-them-joy-if/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity, withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplation-means-rest-suspension-of-activity-withdrawal-into-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Explore all 851 Thomas Merton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More Classrooms quotes > [I've never been pigeonholed and I've experienced so many different kinds of skin - what man will do and won't do, what you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-never-been-pigeonholed-and-i-ve-experienced-so-many-different/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [If you could draw a picture of the best high school in the world - where all the teachers are wonderful and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/if-you-could-draw-a-picture-of-the-best-high-school-in-the-world/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [In the depth of the near depression, that he faced when he came in, Barack Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress provided 'recovery funds'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/in-the-depth-of-the-near-depression-that-he-faced-when-he-came-in/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [To build a more healthy, peaceful and equitable world the classrooms of the world have to be full of girls as well as boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/to-build-a-more-healthy-peaceful-and-equitable-world-the-classrooms/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [While classrooms will be in use for many years to come, their value will diminish quickly as the online options become more pervasive. Many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frey/while-classrooms-will-be-in-use-for-many-years-to-come-their-value/) [Thomas Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frey/) > [Cameras in classrooms are no substitute for greater authority by parents and teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weyrich/cameras-in-classrooms-are-no-substitute-for-greater-authority-by/) [Paul Weyrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weyrich/) > [I consider this world to be like a school and our lives to be the classrooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-consider-this-world-to-be-like-a-school-and-our-lives-to-be-the/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“When we introduce new technologies into our classrooms we are teaching our students twice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-joseph-brown/when-we-introduce-new-technologies-into-our-classrooms-we-are/) Michael Joseph Brown > [“There aren't many classrooms in the school basement. Most of the space is for storage and utilities. As far as student use goes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/there-aren-t-many-classrooms-in-the-school-basement-most-of-the-space/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [In classrooms full of students who range from brilliant to sullen disaffection, it's games - and often games alone - that I've seen engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-chatfield/in-classrooms-full-of-students-who-range-from-brilliant-to-sullen/) [Tom Chatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-chatfield/) > [Keeping our kids out of classrooms is damaging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-williamson/keeping-our-kids-out-of-classrooms-is-damaging/) [Gavin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-williamson/) > [“All I know is that right now I wanna rip your clothes off right here in the middle of this hall and throw you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/all-i-know-is-that-right-now-i-wanna-rip-your-clothes-off-right-here/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [If they believe only what they can see, why do we have classrooms?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yul-brynner/if-they-believe-only-what-they-can-see-why-do-we-have-classrooms/) [Yul Brynner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yul-brynner/) > [Teachers craft classrooms that are good matches for their teaching styles as well as for learner needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-tomlinson/teachers-craft-classrooms-that-are-good-matches-for-their-teaching/) [Carol Ann Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-tomlinson/) > [In differentiated classrooms, teachers begin where students are, not the front of a curriculum guide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-tomlinson/in-differentiated-classrooms-teachers-begin-where-students-are-not/) [Carol Ann Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-tomlinson/) [Browse all 46 Classrooms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classrooms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The least of learning is done in the classrooms. ”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Merton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-least-of-learning-is-done-in-the-classrooms/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Classrooms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-least-of-learning-is-done-in-the-classrooms/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/thomas-merton-231_education_the-least-of-learning-is-done-in-the-cla_1654926.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/thomas-merton-231_education_the-least-of-learning-is-done-in-the-cla_1654926.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/thomas-merton-231_education_the-least-of-learning-is-done-in-the-cla_1654926.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The least of learning is done in the classrooms.” — Thomas Merton", "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": "Thomas Merton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The least of learning is done...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-least-of-learning-is-done-in-the-classrooms/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-least-of-learning-is-done-in-the-classrooms/#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 } } ] } ```