The young do not demand omniscience. They know it is unattainable. They do demand sincerity. Gilbert Highet More Quotes by Gilbert Highet More Quotes From Gilbert Highet I believe that much of the maladjustment in our societies is caused, not by malevolence and corruption, but simply by ignorance. Gilbert Highet our-societyignorancebelieve Language is a living thing Gilbert Highet living-thingslanguage The real duty of man is not to extend his power or multiply his wealth beyond his needs, but to enrich and enjoy his imperishable possession: his soul. Gilbert Highet realsoulmen The aim of those who try to control thought is always the same. They find one single explanation of the world, one system of thought and action that will (they believe) cover everything; and then they try to impose that on all thinking people. Gilbert Highet fearbelievethinking Know the subject; love the subject; like your students; know your students. Gilbert Highet subjectslike-youstudents The art of invective resembles the art of boxing. Very few fights are won with the straight left. It is too obvious, and it can betoo easily countered. The best punches, like the best pieces of invective in this style, are either short-arm jabs, unexpectedly rapid and deadly; or else one-two blows, where you prepare your opponent with the first hit, and then, as his face comes forward, connect with your other fist: one, two. Both are effective; but they can be administered only by a real artist, with a real wish to knock his enemy out. Gilbert Highet fightingrealart A period of high civilization is one in which thoughts fly freely from mind to mind, from one country to another-yes, from the past into the present. Gilbert Highet civilizationcountrypast Nobody has ever thought himself to death. The chief danger confronting us is not age. It is laziness, sloth, routine, stupidity, - forcing their way in like wind through the shutters, seeping into the cellar like swamp water. Gilbert Highet stupiditywindwater Language is a living thing. We can feel it changing. Parts of it become old: they drop off and are forgotten. New pieces bud out, spread into leaves, and become big branches, proliferating. Gilbert Highet budpieceswriting The teacher's chief difficulty is poverty. He (or she) belongs to a badly paid profession. He cannot dress and live like a workman, but he is sometimes paid as little as an unskilled laborer. Gilbert Highet dresseslittlesteacher Leisure is one of the three greatest rewards of being a teacher. It is, unfortunately, the privilege which teachers most often misuse. Gilbert Highet rewardsthreeteacher You [the teacher] do not merely insert a lot of facts, if you teach them [the students] properly. It is not like injecting 500 cc. of serum, or administering a year's dose of vitamins. Gilbert Highet Most Americans do not like poetry. We may respect it, but we do not enjoy it. Gilbert Highet enjoymay Many of the snarly bad-tempered teachers whom we remember with hatred were really nice people soured by years of anxiety and penny-pinching. Gilbert Highet niceteacheryears At certain times and in certain schools it is orthodox to be a rebel; and in general it is a very poor class that does not contain at least three pupils who can be counted on to oppose the teachers authority and loudly and persistently to question everything he says. Gilbert Highet classteacherschool Like all great teachers he knew that a picture is worth a thousand words and that people learn most quickly by doing something or seeing something done. Gilbert Highet educationteacherinspirational
