"The great mass of humanity should never learn to read or write"

In this quote, David Herbert Lawrence is revealing his belief that the majority of people ought to not be educated in reading and writing. He might be suggesting that literacy is an advantage reserved for the elite, which the masses need to not have access to it. This could be viewed as a questionable and elitist viewpoint, as literacy is typically seen as an essential human right and a crucial to empowerment and social movement. Lawrence's statement might also show a worry of the power of understanding and the potential for disobedience and transformation that includes an educated population. Overall, this quote highlights the complex and frequently contentious relationship in between education and social control.