A.S. Neill Quotes & Sayings

If the emotions are free the intellect will look after itself — A.S. Neill

Compelled respect always implies fear. — A.S. Neill

The function of a child is to live his/her own life, not the life that his/her anxious parents think he/she should live, nor a life according to the purpose of the educators who thinks they knows best — A.S. Neill

I would rather see a school produce a happy street cleaner than a neurotic scholar. — A.S. Neill

All crimes, all hatreds, all wars can be reduced to unhappiness. — A.S. Neill

Summerhill children are allowed to go through their gangster period, and consequentially more furniture is destroyed. — A.S. Neill

Goodness than depends on fear of hell or fear of the policeman or fear of punishment is not goodness at all - it is simply cowardice. Goodness than depends on hope of reward or hope of praise or hope of heaven depends on bribery. — A.S. Neill

Small boys often produce their own plays; but usually the parts are not written out. They hardly need to be, for the main line of each character is always "Stick 'em up!" In these plays the curtain is always rung down on a set of corpses, for small boys are by nature through and uncompromising. — A.S. Neill