Abbott Lawrence Lowell Quotes, born in Boston, Massachusetts, was an American educator, lawyer, and president of Harvard University from 1909 to 1933, whose reforms reshaped American higher education. A Harvard alumnus (A.B. 1877, LL.B. 1880), Lowell introduced the major system, general examinations, and tutorial plans, doubling enrollment and tripling faculty. His books, like The Government of England (1908), earned scholarly acclaim. A member of the prominent Lowell family, he championed social integration at Harvard, though his legacy includes controversial policies like Jewish quotas.
These 15 quotes—sourced from his writings, speeches, and baccalaureate sermons—reflect his insights on education, duty, wisdom, and societal progress, capturing his visionary, principled spirit.
15 Abbott Lawrence Lowell Quotes
- “The mark of an educated man is the ability to make a reasoned guess on the basis of insufficient information.” (Citatis.com, n.d.)
- “Of course there’s a lot of knowledge in universities: the freshmen bring a little in; the seniors don’t take much away, so knowledge sort of accumulates.” (QuoteFancy, n.d.)
- “Ants, like human beings, can create civilizations without the use of reason.” (Goodreads, n.d.)
- “There’s a Harvard man on the wrong side of every question.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “Pleasure is a by-product of doing something that is worth doing. Therefore, do not seek pleasure as such. Pleasure comes of seeking something else, and comes by the way.” (Quotes.net, n.d.)
- “You will not accept credit that is due to another, or harbor jealousy of an explorer who is more fortunate.” (Citatis.com, n.d.)
- “You will be courteous to your elders who have explored to the point from which you may advance; and helpful to your juniors who will progress farther by reason of your labors.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “Your aim will be knowledge and wisdom, not the reflected glamour of fame.” (Citatis.com, n.d.)
- “All social life, stability, progress, depend upon each man’s confidence in his neighbor, a reliance upon him to do his duty.” (Citatis.com, n.d.)
- “You will seek not a near but a distant objective, and you will not be satisfied with what you may have done.” (Citatis.com, n.d.)
- “I must follow them. I am their leader.” (QuoteFancy, n.d.)
- “Universities are full of knowledge; the freshmen bring a little in and the seniors take none away, and knowledge accumulates.” (Goodreads, n.d.)
- “A tale is told of a man in Paris during the upheaval in 1948, who saw a friend marching after a crowd toward the barricades. Warning him that these could not be held against the troops, that he had better keep way, he received this reply, ‘I must follow them. I am their leader.’” (Facts and Visions, 1944)
- “The task of education is not to fill the mind with facts, but to teach it how to think and reason.” (Bookey.app, 2023)
- “The true function of a university is to teach men to think for themselves, not to tell them what to think.” (Bookey.app, 2023)
Abbott Lawrence Lowell’s quotes glow with scholarly wisdom, a call to pursue knowledge with integrity, and a deep sense of duty, inspiring us to think critically, support one another, and strive for progress beyond personal gain. His Harvard reforms, lauded in posts found on X for their lasting impact, reflect a leader who reshaped education with vision and resolve. Which quote stirs your passion for learning or leadership? Share it in the comments and keep Lowell’s enduring legacy thriving!
Emma Thompson
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