The Education of Man: Aphorisms

by Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi

Timeless words of wisdom from the eighteenth-century teacher who transformed the world of education with his groundbreaking ideas.

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi rose to prominence during the Age of Enlightenment, bringing the spirit of equal opportunity and respect for human personality into the classroom, just as Thomas Jefferson imbued such virtues into the Declaration of Independence. The foundation of Pestalozzi's educational philosophy rested on six principles: the inner dignity of the individual; the promise of potential in each child; love as the basis of education (as opposed to punishment); his doctrine of Anschauung, experience-based learning; appropriate action following Anschauung, and an emphasis on repetition of said action.

This philosophical grounding influenced the great remaking of American education from 1830 to 1860, resulting in changes that have been felt through the centuries and remain relevant today. The Education of Man gathers Pestalozzi's enduring thoughts on subjects as wide-ranging as humanity, teaching, poverty, justice, truth, and nature, including such observations as . . .

People are led by custom and catchwords, but facts they are wont to overlook.

The man who seeks to rule as a father before he has learned to love as a brother will never be a patriarch.

Sooner or later, but of a certainty in the end, Nature will take her toll for what men do against her.

Learning is not worth a penny when courage and joy are lost along the way.

The world grows poor in seeking to avoid poverty; the man who strives for riches most earnestly is seen to be the poorest.

Genres: Education

93 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 1951

About the author

Pestalozzi was born on 12 January 1746, in Zürich, Switzerland. His father was a surgeon and oculist who died at age 33 when Pestalozzi, the second of three children, was five years old; he belonged to a family who had fled the area around Locarno due to its Protestant faith. His mother, whose maiden name was Hotze, was a native of Wädenswil on the lake of Zürich. The family also had a maid, Barbara Schmid, nicknamed Babeli. After the death of Pestalozzi's father it was only through the help of Babeli that Pestalozzi's mother could financially support the family.

In 1761, Pestalozzi attended the Gymnasium (Collegium Humanitatis) and received instruction from educators Johann Jakob Bodmer, who taught history and politics, and Johann Jakob Breitinger, who taught Greek and Hebrew.

Reviews

[Usfromdk · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor, but short.

The book contains very few at all noteworthy quotes, and lots of poor quotes. This is the worst quote/aphorism-collection I've read so far.