Mortimer J. Adler: Quotes about understanding

Mortimer J. Adler was American philosopher and educator. Explore interesting quotes on understanding.
Mortimer J. Adler: 62   quotes 2   likes

“The books to be read should not be limited to those written in English…. Instead it should be devoted to the great works of history, biography, philosophy, theology, natural science, social science, and mathematics, as well as the… tradition of Western literature -- in English translation… Its aim should not be a survey of Western civilization, but an effort to understand the basic ideas and issues in Western thought.”

Mortimer J. Adler

Source: Reforming Education: The Opening of the American Mind (1990), p. 316

Books , History , Literature , Mathematics

“The great authors were great readers, and one way to understand them is to read the books they read.”

Mortimer J. Adler

Source: How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

Books , Way , Understanding , Reading

“To agree without understanding is inane. To disagree without understanding is impudent.”

Mortimer J. Adler

Source: How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

Understanding

“There are genuine mysteries in the world that mark the limits of human knowing and thinking. Wisdom is fortified, not destroyed, by understanding its limitations. Ignorance does not make a fool as surely as self-deception.”

Mortimer J. Adler

Source: How to Read a Book: The Classic Bestselling Guide to Reading Books and Accessing Information

Wisdom , World , Fools , Understanding

“Too many facts are often as much of an obstacle to understanding as too few. There is a sense in which we moderns are inundated with facts to the detriment of understanding.”

Mortimer J. Adler book How to Read a Book

Source: How to Read a Book (1940, 1972), p. 4

Understanding , Sense

“Every seminar should involve at its conclusion the assignment of a short composition in which students would attempt to state how their understanding of the book discussed in the seminar was increased by their participation in the discussion.”

Mortimer J. Adler

Source: Reforming Education: The Opening of the American Mind (1990), p. 316

Books , Understanding

“…an adequate reform of public education in our school system cannot be accomplished by anything like a quick fix. We suspect that anyone who thinks otherwise cannot fully understand the shape of an adequate reform or all the obstacles to be overcome in achieving it.”

Mortimer J. Adler

Source: Reforming Education: The Opening of the American Mind (1990), p. 314

Education , School , Understanding , Thinking