Horace Mann Quotes

A collection of quotes by Horace Mann.

Horace Mann (1796-1859) was an American educational reformer and politician, often referred to as the "Father of the Common School" movement. Born in Massachusetts, Mann dedicated his life to the improvement of public education in the United States.

After attending Brown University, Mann studied law and went on to serve in the Massachusetts State Legislature, where he advocated for educational reforms. In 1837, he was appointed as the first Secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education. Mann's influential tenure in this role lasted for 12 years.

During his time as Secretary of Education, Mann fought for various reforms in public education. He believed in the importance of universal public schooling and worked to establish free primary schools that offered education to all children, regardless of their socio-economic status. Mann campaigned for equal access to education, teacher training, standardized curricula, and improved school facilities.

Mann's efforts extended beyond Massachusetts as he traveled across the country, delivering speeches and promoting his vision for public education. His influence and advocacy laid the groundwork for the development of public schools nationwide.

In addition to his contributions in education, Mann was politically active. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1848 to 1853, where he continued advocating for educational reforms.

Horace Mann's commitment to educational progress and his impact on public schooling in America earned him a prominent place in the history of American education. He remains an influential figure whose ideas and initiatives continue to shape the educational landscape in the United States.

A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the p

A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on a cold iron.

Let us labor for that larger and larger comprehension of tru

Let us labor for that larger and larger comprehension of truth, that more and more thorough repudiation of error, which shall make the history of mankind a series of ascending developments.

The teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the

The teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on cold iron.

To pity distress is but human to relieve it is Godlike.

To pity distress is but human to relieve it is Godlike.

Education then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is

Education then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men, the balance-wheel of the social machinery.

Generosity during life is a very different thing from genero

Generosity during life is a very different thing from generosity in the hour of death; one proceeds from genuine liberality and benevolence, the other from pride or fear.

Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humani

Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.

Death Humanity Victory Die You Some

Manners easily and rapidly mature into morals.

Manners easily and rapidly mature into morals.

It is well to think well. It is divine to act well.

It is well to think well. It is divine to act well.

If any man seeks for greatness, let him forget greatness and

If any man seeks for greatness, let him forget greatness and ask for truth, and he will find both.

More will sometimes be demanded of you than is reasonable. B

More will sometimes be demanded of you than is reasonable. Bear it meekly, and exhaust your time and strength in performing your duties, rather than in vindicating your rights. Be silent, even when you are misrepresented. Turn aside when opposed, rather than confront opposition with resistance. Bear and forbear, not defending yourselves, so much as trusting to your works to defend you. Yet, in counselling you thus, I would not be understood to be a total non-resistant;a perfectly passive, non-elastic sand-bag, in society; but I would not have you resist until the blow be aimed, not so much at you, as, through you, at the sacred cause of human improvement, in which you are engaged,a point at which forbearance would be allied to crime.

It is more difficult, and it calls for higher energies of so

It is more difficult, and it calls for higher energies of soul, to live a martyr than to die one.

Martyrdom Martyr

Let the public mind become corrupt, and all efforts to secur

Let the public mind become corrupt, and all efforts to secure property, liberty, or life by the force of laws written on paper will be as vain as putting up a sign in an apple orchard to exclude canker worms.

When a child can be brought to tears, and not from fear of p

When a child can be brought to tears, and not from fear of punishment, but from repentance he needs no chastisement. When the tears begin to flow from the grief of their conduct you can be sure there is an angel nestling in their heart.

Reform Correction

Teaching isn't one-tenth as effective as training.

Teaching isn't one-tenth as effective as training.

Two golden hours somewhere between sunrise and sunset. Both

Two golden hours somewhere between sunrise and sunset. Both are set with 60 diamond minutes. No reward is offered. They are gone forever.

Every addition to true knowledge is an addition to human pow

Every addition to true knowledge is an addition to human power.

Avoid witicisms at the expense of others.

Avoid witicisms at the expense of others.

A human being is not attaining his full heights until he is

A human being is not attaining his full heights until he is educated.

If an idiot were to tell you the same story every day for a

If an idiot were to tell you the same story every day for a year, you would end by believing it.