Thursday, July 2, 2009

Jean Roemer on self-education

An excerpt from a rare book I stumbled upon in the University of Chicago's Regenstein library a few years ago:

"One of the chief characteristics of a good method consists in enabling learners to dispense with the assistance of a teacher when they are capable of self-government. It should be so contrived as to excite and direct their spontaneous efforts, and lend them to the conviction that they have the power, if they have the will, to acquire whatever man has acquired.

…The most extensive education given by the most skilful masters often produces but inferior characters; that alone which we give to ourselves elevates us above mediocrity. The eminence attained by great men is always the result of their own industry."

Jean Roemer
--Polyglot Reader and Guide for Translation