Kurt Hahn Quotes & Sayings

There are three ways of trying to win the young. There is persuasion, there is compulsion, and there is attraction. You can preach at them: that is a hook without a worm. You can say, You must volunteer, and that is of the devil. You can tell them, You are needed. That appeal hardly ever fails. — Kurt Hahn

Your disability is your opportunity. — Kurt Hahn

The purpose of education is to save young people from the paralyzing effects of wealth and poverty. (more or less verbatim quote) — Kurt Hahn

The passion of rescue reveals the highest dynamic of the human soul. — Kurt Hahn

Education must enable young people to effect what they have recognized to be right, despite hardships, despite dangers, despite inner skepticism, despite boredom, and despite mockery from the world ... — Kurt Hahn

We are all better than we know. If only we can be brought to realise this, we may never be prepared to settle for anything less — Kurt Hahn

The experience of helping a fellow man in danger, or even of training in a realistic manner to be ready to give this help, tends to change the balance of power in a youth's inner life with the result that compassion can become the master motive. — Kurt Hahn

The worth of a faith does not consist in the clarity with which it is stated but in the steadfastness with which it is defended. — Kurt Hahn

There is more in us than we know if we could be made to see it; perhaps, for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less. — Kurt Hahn

I regard it as the foremost task of education to insure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible self denial, and above all, compassion — Kurt Hahn

Without the instinct for adventure, any civilization, however enlightened; any state, however well-ordered, will wilt and wither. — Kurt Hahn

There exists within everyone a grand passion, an outlandish thirst for adventure, a desire to live boldly and vividly through the journey of life. — Kurt Hahn

There is more in you than you think. — Kurt Hahn

Whenever you have to deal with a boy who is a rebel, remember that you must not fail at some time or other to get him to face the question, Are you going to be a fighter or a quarreller? — Kurt Hahn

Think highly of yourself because the world takes you at your own estimate. — Kurt Hahn

Expeditions can greatly contribute towards building strength of character. Joseph Conrad in Lord Jim tells us that it is necessary for a youth to experience events which 'reveal the inner worth of the man; the edge of his temper; the fibre of his stuff; the quality of his resistance; the secret truth of his pretences, not only to himself but others. — Kurt Hahn

There can be no doubt that the young of today have to be protected against certain poisonous effects inherent in present-day civilization. Five social diseases surround them, even in early childhood. There is the decline in fitness due to modern methods of locomotion; the decline in initiative due to the widespread disease of spectatoritis; the decline in care and skill due to the weakened tradition of craftsmanship; the decline in self-discipline due to the ever-present availability of tranquilizers and stimulants, and the decline in compassion, which William Temple called spiritual death. — Kurt Hahn

What is it that is done to our children that their puberty should deform them? They have the joy of movement; they have an enterprising curiosity; they are ready for sensible self-denial; they dream ahead, and they have a faithful memory, and, above all, great compassion. [ ... ] The well-meaning educator who flatters and humours the young not only does a disservice to the community, but also damages the individual by depriving him of the opportunities of self-discovery. — Kurt Hahn

It is a sin of the soul to force young people into opinions ... but it is culpable neglect not to impel young people into experiences. — Kurt Hahn