Great Throughts Treasury

"Most of what we object to as misconduct in children is a natural rebellion against the intrusion of an unimaginative adult despotism in their lives."

"There is no human reason why a child should not admire and emulate his teacher's ability to do sums, rather than the village bum's ability to whittle sticks and smoke cigarettes. The reason why the child does not is plain enough - the bum has put himself on an equality with him and the teacher has not."

"Children are notoriously curious about everything - everything except - the things people want them to know. It then remains for us to refrain from forcing any kind of knowledge upon them, and they will be curious about everything."

"Idleness is not doing nothing. Idleness is being free to do anything."

"Children are notoriously curious about everything, everything except... the things people want them to know. It then remains for us to refrain from forcing any kind of knowledge upon them, and they will be curious about everything."