To affirm that men and women are persons and as persons should be free, and yet to do nothing tangible to make this affirmation a reality, is a farce. Paulo Freire More Quotes by Paulo Freire More Quotes From Paulo Freire It is not possible to remake this country, to democratize it, humanize it, make it serious, as long as we have teenagers killing people for play and offending life, destroying the dream, and making love unviable. If education alone cannot transform society, without it society cannot change either. Paulo Freire teenager dream country I am dealing with people and not with things. And, because I am dealing with people, I cannot refuse my wholehearted and loving attention, even in personal matters, where I see that a student is in need of such attention. Paulo Freire teaching people needs Indeed, some "revolutionaries" brand as "innocents," "dreamers," or even "reactionaries"; those who would challenge this educational practice. But one does not liberate people by alienating them. Authentic liberation - the process of humanization - is not another deposit to be made in men. Paulo Freire educational practice men Whether the teacher is authoritarian, undisciplined, competent, incompetent, serious, irresponsible, involved, a lover of people and of life, cold, angry with the world, bureaucratic, excessively rational, or whatever else, he/she will not pass through the classroom without leaving his or her mark on the students. Paulo Freire teaching teacher people Revolution is born as a social entity within the oppressor society. Paulo Freire born revolution social At times, I have been criticized by some philosophers of education, who place me in postures that they classify pejoratively as 'revolutionary.' But I have had the satisfaction of being invited to work in societies making progressive efforts without wavering. They were changing, and so they called on me. Paulo Freire wavering effort satisfaction The role of the educator is one of tranquil possession of certitude in regard to the teaching of not only contents but also of 'correct thinking.' Paulo Freire educational teaching philosophy How can I be an educator if I do not develop in myself a caring and loving attitude toward the student, which is indispensable on the part of one who is committed to teaching and to the education process itself. Paulo Freire caring teaching attitude A fact which is not denied but whose truths are rationalized loses its objective base. It ceases to be concrete and becomes a myth created in defense of the class of the perceiver. Paulo Freire defense class facts We must be forewarned that only rarely does a text easily lend itself to the reader's curiosity... the reading of a text is a transaction between the reader and the text, which mediates the encounter between the reader and writer. It is a composition between the reader and the writer in which the reader "rewrites" the text making a determined effort not to betray the author's spirit. Paulo Freire effort learning reading For people, 'here' signifies not merely a physical space, but also an historical space. Paulo Freire space historical people It's really not possible for someone to imagine himself/herself as a subject in the process of becoming without having at the same time a disposition for change. And change of which she/he is not merely the victim but the subject. Paulo Freire becoming imagine victim The world is split between those who do not sleep because they are hungry and those who do not sleep because they are afraid of those who are hungry. Paulo Freire splits sleep world Without a minimum of hope, we cannot so much as start the struggle. Paulo Freire minimum struggle Individuals who were submerged in reality, merely feeling their needs, emerge from reality and perceive the causes of their needs. Paulo Freire causes feelings reality It is essential for the oppressed to realize that when they accept the struggle for humanization they also accept, from that moment, their total responsibility for the struggle. Paulo Freire essentials responsibility struggle It would be a contradiction in terms if the oppressors not only defended but actually implemented a liberating education. Paulo Freire contradiction term would-be With the establishment of a relationship of oppression, violence has already begun. Never in history has violence been initiated by the oppressed. How could they be the initiators, if they themselves are the result of violence? How could they be the sponsors of something objective whose objective inauguration called forth their existence as oppressed? There would be no oppressed had there been no prior of violence to establish their subjugation. Paulo Freire oppression violence would-be The object of a dialogical-liberterian action is not to 'dislodge' the oppressed from a mythological reality in order to 'bind' them to another reality. On the contrary, the object of dialogical action is to make it possible for the oppressed, by perceiving their adhesion, to opt to transform an unjust reality." "In order for the oppressed to unite they must first cut the umbilical cord of magic and myth which binds them to the world of oppression; the unity which links them to each other must be of a different nature. Paulo Freire cutting order reality It is not suprising that the banking concept of education regards men as adaptable, manageable beings. Paulo Freire pedagogy-of-the-oppressed banking men
