"Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours"
- John Locke
About this Quote
John Locke's quote highlights the significance of thinking in the learning process. He recommends that reading is only the initial step in the process of acquiring knowledge. Reading offers us with the raw materials of knowledge, however it is our own thinking that permits us to make sense of what we read and make it our own. In other words, it is our own psychological effort that enables us to comprehend and internalize the details we read. This quote encourages us to take an active role in our learning process, to believe critically and deeply about the information we exist with. It likewise reminds us that understanding is not something that can be passively obtained, but rather something that needs effort and active engagement.
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