It’s a great mistake, I think, to put children off with falsehoods and nonsense, when their growing powers of observation and discrimination excite in them a desire to know about things.

Meaning of the quote

Children are curious and want to learn about the world around them. It's wrong to give them false information or silly stories when they are eager to understand how things really work. They have the ability to observe and make good judgments, so we should encourage their natural curiosity instead of holding them back.

About Anne Sullivan

Anne Sullivan Macy was an American teacher best known for being the instructor and lifelong companion of Helen Keller. Despite losing her own sight and reading/writing skills at a young age, she went on to become a highly skilled educator, dedicating her life to helping others like Keller overcome their disabilities.

More about the author

More quotes from Anne Sullivan

It’s a great mistake, I think, to put children off with falsehoods and nonsense, when their growing powers of observation and discrimination excite in them a desire to know about things.

Anne Sullivan

teacher and companion of Helen Keller

Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction.

Anne Sullivan

teacher and companion of Helen Keller

I am beginning to suspect all elaborate and special systems of education. They seem to me to be built up on the supposition that every child is a kind of idiot who must be taught to think.

Anne Sullivan

teacher and companion of Helen Keller

People seldom see the halting and painful steps by which the most insignificant success is achieved.

Anne Sullivan

teacher and companion of Helen Keller

My heart is singing for joy this morning! A miracle has happened! The light of understanding has shone upon my little pupil’s mind, and behold, all things are changed!

Anne Sullivan

teacher and companion of Helen Keller

Keep on beginning and failing. Each time you fail, start all over again, and you will grow stronger until you have accomplished a purpose – not the one you began with perhaps, but one you’ll be glad to remember.

Anne Sullivan

teacher and companion of Helen Keller

I have thought about it a great deal, and the more I think, the more certain I am that obedience is the gateway through which knowledge, yes, and love, too, enter the mind of the child.

Anne Sullivan

teacher and companion of Helen Keller

We all like stories that make us cry. It’s so nice to feel sad when you’ve nothing in particular to feel sad about.

Anne Sullivan

teacher and companion of Helen Keller

I think that there are some teachers that do a very good job of incorporating culture and history. And there are some teachers who could use a little more help in that area.

Anne Sullivan

teacher and companion of Helen Keller

The truth is not wonderful enough to suit the newspapers; so they enlarge upon it, and invent ridiculous embellishments.

Anne Sullivan

teacher and companion of Helen Keller

It’s queer how ready people always are with advice in any real or imaginary emergency, and no matter how many times experience has shown them to be wrong, they continue to set forth their opinions, as if they had received them from the Almighty!

Anne Sullivan

teacher and companion of Helen Keller