Children come into the world exquisitely designed, and strongly motivated, to educate themselves. They don’t need to be forced to learn; in fact, coercion undermines their natural desire to learn.

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"We have almost forgotten how strange a thing it is that so huge and powerful and intelligent an animal as the horse should allow another, and far more feeble animal, to ride upon its back."

- Peter Gray

Awareness

"Children come into the world exquisitely designed, and strongly motivated, to educate themselves. They don't need to be forced to learn; in fact, coercion undermines their natural desire to learn."

- Peter Gray

Education

"If we love our children and want them to thrive, we must allow them more time and opportunity to play, not less. Yet policymakers and powerful philanthropists are continuing to push us in the opposite direction — toward more schooling, more testing, more adult direction of children, and less opportunity for free play."

- Peter Gray

Education

"The drive to play freely is a basic, biological drive. Lack of free play may not kill the physical body, as would lack of air, food, or water, but it kills the spirit and stunts mental growth."

- Peter Gray

Well-being

More Learning Quotes

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"The expert in anything was once a beginner."

- Helen Hayes

Learning

"Learn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow."

- Mahatma Gandhi

Learning

"To know how much there is to know is the beginning of learning to live."

- Dorothy West

Learning

"In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind, there are few."

- Vince Gironda

Learning

"I am always doing what I cannot do yet in order to learn how to do it."

- Vincent van Gogh

Learning