Anne Sullivan Macy quotes

Anne Sullivan Macy was an American educator, most famous for being the lifelong teacher and companion of Helen Keller. Her innovative teaching methods helped Helen Keller, who was both deaf and blind, to communicate and achieve remarkable academic success. She continues to inspire educators and advocates for people with disabilities around the world. Here are 28 of her quotes:

I cannot explain it; but when difficulties arise, I am not perplexed or doubtful. I know how to meet them.

Anne Sullivan Macy

We imagine that we want to escape our selfish and commonplace existence, but we cling desperately to our chains.

Anne Sullivan Macy

Education in the light of present-day knowledge and need calls for some spirited and creative innovations both in the substance and the purpose of current pedagogy.

Anne Sullivan Macy

It is a rare privilege to watch the birth, growth, and first feeble struggles of a living mind; this privilege is mine.

Anne Sullivan Macy

The immediate future is going to be tragic for all of us unless we find a way of making the vast educational resources of this country serve the true purpose of education, truth and justice.

Anne Sullivan Macy

A strenuous effort must be made to train young people to think for themselves and take independent charge of their lives.

Anne Sullivan Macy

The processes of teaching the child that everything cannot be as he wills it are apt to be painful both to him and to his teacher.

Anne Sullivan Macy

If the child is left to himself, he will think more and better, if less showily. Let him go and come freely, let him touch real things and combine his impressions for himself.

Anne Sullivan Macy

We have no firm hold on any knowledge or philosophy that can lift us out of our difficulties.

Anne Sullivan Macy

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

Anne Sullivan Macy

I need a teacher quite as much as Helen. I know the education of this child will be the distinguishing event of my life, if I have the brains and perseverance to accomplish it.

Anne Sullivan Macy

Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction.

Anne Sullivan Macy

We are afraid of ideas, of experimenting, of change. We shrink from thinking a problem through to a logical conclusion.

Anne Sullivan Macy

Yes, I am proud, and very humble too.

Anne Sullivan Macy

I'd rather break stones on the king's highway than hem a handkerchief.

Anne Sullivan Macy

No matter how mistaken Communist ideas may be, the experience and knowledge gained by trying them out have given a tremendous impetus to thought and imagination.

Anne Sullivan Macy

Our material eye cannot see that a stupid chauvinism is driving us from one noisy, destructive, futile agitation to another.

Anne Sullivan Macy

The Great War proved how confused the world is. Depression is proving it again.

Anne Sullivan Macy

The wrong things are predominantly stressed in the schools - things remote from the student's experience and need.

Anne Sullivan Macy

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 Macy

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 Macy

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 Macy