We live in a day and age when educators tend to place much less attention upon the past. This tendency often discourages students from drawing from the wisdom of previous generations. The impulse to devalue the wit and wisdom of dynamic individuals who lived long ago may well stem from the notion that ancient cultures have little to offer contemporary society. The fact remains, however, that there is nothing new under the sun in terms of earthly wisdom because God created man with great intellectual capacity ‘in the beginning.’ For this reason, if you desire to enhance the quality of students’ educational experience, you will wish to help students value morally and intellectually sound principles even if they are of ancient origin.

Most influential and successful leaders from world history spent time memorizing pithy statements and powerful quotations from those who came before them. These intellectual gems were often incorporated into the speeches and writings of those individuals who were in the process of making their mark upon the world, as they acted upon the old proverb that “leaders must be readers.” In fact, many of those who made the effort to study great quotations from the past were also led to create some of their own wise sayings. It is indeed true that he who walks with wise men shall be wise.

Home school instructors are in a particularly strong position to provide their children with exposure to great maxims and proverbs from by-gone eras since they have greater flexibility in their weekly schedule. For this reason, home educators should make a point to assign their students the task of memorizing at least one great quotation or maxim each week. Such a plan will undoubtedly pay rich dividends as students grow in practical wisdom on a regular basis. Whenever possible, as an encouragement to their students, parents should also make the effort to encourage the entire family to memorize the same significant quotation or saying.

In addition to engaging young minds in routine Bible memorization activities (particularly from the book of Proverbs), students should also be encouraged to memorize a wide variety of quotable quotes from the realms of politics, church history, theology, philosophy, and the arts. Local libraries often stock books that feature choice or memorable quotes from the past. Such books commonly classify each famous statement or maxim in terms of its subject matter or perhaps under the name of the original author. This makes them somewhat easier to organize or access. Many literature books, particularly those published years ago, also contain a wealth of great proverbs and wise sayings that are worthy of consideration. One final source for great quotations might well be found by purchasing desk or wall calendars that feature a meaningful statement for each day of the year.

Some of most significant quotations that I have run across in my days under the Sun are as follows:

• “Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.” — Plato
• “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” — Aristotle
• “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” — Seneca
• “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” — Plato
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16
• “God and the doctor we alike adore, but only when in danger, and not before; the danger over, both are requited, God is forgotten, and the doctor slighted.” — Robert Owen
• “For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “The most I can do for my friend is simply to be a friend.” — Henry David Thoreau
• “I hold it true, whatever befall, I feel it when I sorrow most, ’tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” — Alfred Lord Tennyson
• “Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.” — William Lowndes
• “History has never been dominated by majorities, but only by dedicated minorities who stand unconditionally on their faith.” — R. J. Rushdoony
• “If you aren’t grateful for what you already have, why should you be blessed with more?” — Germany Kent

As I have meditated upon the wisdom that flows from statements such as these, and also lived long enough to learn from the school of hard knocks, I have been encouraged to begin to put a few of my own thoughts down on paper. Perhaps the following words from my growing collection of quotations will be of encouragement to at least a few souls: “The Christian is the only creature who can fly better on a broken wing” … or perhaps “I would rather win a friend than an argument.”

If we desire to see our students grow up to be influential, to be ‘salt and light,’ then it is important for us to direct our children to memorize Scripture and also to learn by heart the wise sayings of those whom God has gifted with wisdom. Students who store up such wisdom, particularly the kind that is in harmony with biblical truth, will be better prepared to turn the world upside down for the glory of King Jesus.