Average Quote by William Torrey Harris
![“Our schools have been scientifically designed to prevent over-education from happening. The average American [should be] content with their humble role in life, because they're not tempted to think about any other role.” quote by William Torrey Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/751/william-torrey-harris-63767_average_our-schools-have-been-scientifically-des_2281124.jpg)
“Our schools have been scientifically designed to prevent over-education from happening. The average American [should be] content with their humble role in life, because they're not tempted to think about any other role.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Educational Reform Address, 1860s, United States
The quote suggests schools are structured to limit higher learning, keeping people content with modest roles and discouraging ambition.
In simple terms: Schools limit learning to keep people modest.
Key Takeaway
Question education and personal growth.
Themes
education
social control
class
ambition
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- public policy
- career counseling
- parental guidance
- community activism
Key Concepts
Meritocracy
social engineering
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does education shape personal aspirations?
- Can ambition coexist with societal stability?
A Different Perspective
It may oversimplify complex motivations behind education.
![“We're actually saying, here's a principle that I'd like to arc toward. That's a very different role in life. I didn't expect [Barack] Obama to go to the root of things. I didn't expect him to have a principled position on anything. I mean, just pay some moderate attention to the guy.” quote by Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4af/bill-ayers-1848_arcs_we-re-actually-saying-here-s-a-principle_1087486.jpg)
![“Ninety-nine [students] out of a hundred are automata, careful to walk in prescribed paths, careful to follow the prescribed custom. This is not an accident but the result of substantial education, which, scientifically defined, is the subsumption of the individual.” quote by William Torrey Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/985/william-torrey-harris-63767_accidents_ninety-nine-students-out-of-a-hundred-ar_3208324.jpg)
