Modern life means democracy, democracy means freeing intelligence for independent effectivenessthe emancipation of mind as an individual organ to do its own work. We naturally associate democracy, to be sure, with freedom of action, but freedom of action without freed capacity of thought behind it is only chaos.
—John Dewey
To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness.
—John Dewey
Topics: Work, Talents, Abilities, Happiness
The result of the educative process is capacity for further education.
—John Dewey
Topics: Education
Time and memory are true artists; they remould reality nearer to the heart’s desire.
—John Dewey
Topics: Reality
Skepticism becomes the mark and even the pose of the educated mind. It is no longer directed against this and that article of the older creeds but is rather a bias against any kind of far-reaching ideas, and a denial of systematic participation on the part of such ideas in the intelligent direction of affairs.
—John Dewey
Topics: Skepticism, Doubt
To the being of fully alive, the future is not ominous but a promise; it surrounds the present like a halo.
—John Dewey
Topics: Tomorrow, The Future
Creative thinking will improve as we relate the new fact to the old and all facts to each other.
—John Dewey
Topics: Facts
Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is, not a preparation for life; education is life itself.
—John Dewey
Topics: Education
The good man is the man who, no matter how morally unworthy he has been, is moving to become better.
—John Dewey
Topics: Progress, Self-improvement
Confidence … is directness and courage in meeting the facts of life.
—John Dewey
Topics: Assurance, Confidence, Life, Courage
We cannot seek or attain health, wealth, learning, justice or kindness in general. Action is always specific, concrete, individualized, unique.
—John Dewey
Topics: Justice, Action, Wealth
For in spite of itself any movement that thinks and acts in terms of an ‘ism becomes so involved in reaction against other ‘isms that it is unwittingly controlled by them. For it then forms its principles by reaction against them instead of by a comprehensive, constructive survey of actual needs, problems, and possibilities.
—John Dewey
Topics: Education
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- William James American Philosopher
- Charles Sanders Peirce American Philosopher
- Mortimer J. Adler American Philosopher
- George Santayana Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
- Eric Hoffer American Philosopher
- Carl Rogers American Psychologist
- Nicholas Murray Butler American Philosopher
- Will Durant American Historian
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau French Philosopher
- Robert Maynard Hutchins American Educator