Now, if the principle of toleration were once admitted into classical education --if it were admitted that the great object is to read and enjoy a language, and the stress of the teaching were placed on the few things absolutely essential to this result, if the tortoise were allowed time to creep, and the bird permitted to fly, and the fish to swim, towards the enchanted and divine sources of Helicon --all might in their own way arrive there, and rejoice in its flowers, its beauty, and its coolness.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the importance of tolerance in education, specifically in the context of classical education. It suggests that if the principle of toleration was accepted, with the focus being on reading and enjoying a language, then students would have the freedom to learn at their own pace and through their own unique approaches. Just as different creatures have distinct ways of reaching beautiful and refreshing places, students would have the opportunity to explore and appreciate the wonders of knowledge in their own individual ways.

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