"The great aim of education is not knowledge but action"
- Herbert Spencer
About this Quote
The quote by Herbert Spencer stresses the significance of action over understanding. He recommends that the primary purpose of education is not to acquire knowledge, but to utilize that understanding to take action. This implies that knowledge is only important if it is used to produce favorable modification. Spencer's quote encourages us to believe beyond the acquisition of understanding and to focus on how we can utilize that understanding to make a difference on the planet. He encourages us to think seriously and to utilize our understanding to produce significant modification. Education must not be seen as a way to an end, but rather as a tool to help us act and make a difference. Spencer's quote is a reminder that knowledge is only important if it is used to develop favorable modification.