Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

46 Notable Quotes By Paulo Freire, The Renowned Brazilian Philosopher

Famous As: Educator and Philosopher
Born On: 1921
Died On: 1997
Born In: Recife, Brazil
Died At Age: 75
Paulo Freire was a distinguished Brazilian educator and a philosopher, who greatly impacted social values. He was keen on manifesting the vital elements of democracy and education, which could revolutionize the society. Paulo was acclaimed for advocating ‘critical pedagogy’and supporting its essentials. He argued that ‘pedagogy’ never gave any quick fixes to political and educational problems, but was fundamental to their proper functioning. Paulo’s book ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed’, acted as foundation to many educators, who were trying to incorporate changes in education, but did not know how to. Paulo lived for the community, and always interpreted the endless possibilities that a person had, in relationship with the society. In recent times, many great educators and philosophers consider his philosophy and work as a boon to their work and research. Like several other philosophers, his thoughts also became popular quoes over time. Paulo was exalted for his interpretation of life and its possibilities, his thoughts, sayings and quotations surely explain his philosophy.
Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.

Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.

Paulo Freire
Leaders who do not act dialogically, but insist on imposing their decisions, do not organize the people--they manipulate them. They do not liberate, nor are they liberated: they oppress.

Leaders who do not act dialogically, but insist on imposing their decisions, do not organize the people--they manipulate them. They do not liberate, nor are they liberated: they oppress.

Paulo Freire
If the structure does not permit dialogue the structure must be changed

If the structure does not permit dialogue the structure must be changed

Paulo Freire
Looking at the past must only be a means of understanding more clearly what and who they are so that they can more wisely build the future.

Looking at the past must only be a means of understanding more clearly what and who they are so that they can more wisely build the future.

Paulo Freire
… Without a sense of identity, there can be no real struggle…

… Without a sense of identity, there can be no real struggle…

Paulo Freire
No one is born fully-formed: it is through self-experience in the world that we become what we are.

No one is born fully-formed: it is through self-experience in the world that we become what we are.

Paulo Freire
The oppressors do not favor promoting the community as a whole, but rather selected leaders.

The oppressors do not favor promoting the community as a whole, but rather selected leaders.

Paulo Freire
Language is never neutral

Language is never neutral

Paulo Freire
Any situation in which some men prevent others from engaging in the process of inquiry is one of violence;… to alienate humans from their own decision making is to change them into objects.

Any situation in which some men prevent others from engaging in the process of inquiry is one of violence;… to alienate humans from their own decision making is to change them into objects.

Paulo Freire
The greatest humanistic and historical task of the oppressed: to liberate themselves...

The greatest humanistic and historical task of the oppressed: to liberate themselves...

Paulo Freire
Reading is not walking on the words; it's grasping the soul of them.

Reading is not walking on the words; it's grasping the soul of them.

Paulo Freire
The educator has the duty of not being neutral.

The educator has the duty of not being neutral.

Paulo Freire
The oppressed, having internalized the image of the oppressor and adopted his guidelines, are fearful of freedom.

The oppressed, having internalized the image of the oppressor and adopted his guidelines, are fearful of freedom.

Paulo Freire
To simply think about the people, as the dominators do, without any self-giving in that thought, to fail to think with the people, is a sure way to cease being revolutionary leaders.

To simply think about the people, as the dominators do, without any self-giving in that thought, to fail to think with the people, is a sure way to cease being revolutionary leaders.

Paulo Freire
Dehumanization, although a concrete historical fact, is not a given destiny but the result of an unjust order that engenders violence in the oppressors, which in turn dehumanizes the oppressed

Dehumanization, although a concrete historical fact, is not a given destiny but the result of an unjust order that engenders violence in the oppressors, which in turn dehumanizes the oppressed

Paulo Freire
The multitude is always in the wrong.

The multitude is always in the wrong.

Paulo Freire
Liberating education consists in acts of cognition, not transferals of information.

Liberating education consists in acts of cognition, not transferals of information.

Paulo Freire
To affirm that men and women are persons and as persons should be free, and yet to do nothing tangible to make this affirmation a reality, is a farce.

To affirm that men and women are persons and as persons should be free, and yet to do nothing tangible to make this affirmation a reality, is a farce.

Paulo Freire
Because love is an act of courage, not of fear, love is a commitment to others. No matter where the oppressed are found, the act of love is commitment to their cause--the cause of liberation.

Because love is an act of courage, not of fear, love is a commitment to others. No matter where the oppressed are found, the act of love is commitment to their cause--the cause of liberation.

Paulo Freire
To glorify democracy and to silence the people is a farce; to discourse on humanism and to negate people is a lie.

To glorify democracy and to silence the people is a farce; to discourse on humanism and to negate people is a lie.

Paulo Freire
This, then, is the great humanistic and historical task of the oppressed: to liberate themselves and their oppressors as well.

This, then, is the great humanistic and historical task of the oppressed: to liberate themselves and their oppressors as well.

Paulo Freire
One cannot conceive of objectivity without subjectivity.

One cannot conceive of objectivity without subjectivity.

Paulo Freire
P46- As long as the oppressed remain unaware of the causes of their condition, they fatalistically

P46- As long as the oppressed remain unaware of the causes of their condition, they fatalistically "accept" their exploitation.

Paulo Freire
...to alienate human beings from their own decision-making is to change them into objects.

...to alienate human beings from their own decision-making is to change them into objects.

Paulo Freire
Liberation is a praxis : the action and reflection of men and women upon their world in order to transform it.

Liberation is a praxis : the action and reflection of men and women upon their world in order to transform it.

Paulo Freire
From the first, the act of conquest, which reduces persons to the status of things, is necrophilia

From the first, the act of conquest, which reduces persons to the status of things, is necrophilia

Paulo Freire
P53-knowledge emerges only through invention and reinvention, the restless,impatient,continuing,hopeful inquiry beings pursue with the world and with others.

P53-knowledge emerges only through invention and reinvention, the restless,impatient,continuing,hopeful inquiry beings pursue with the world and with others.

Paulo Freire
P57- the oppressors, whose tranquility rests on how well people fit the world the oppressors have created, and how little they question it.

P57- the oppressors, whose tranquility rests on how well people fit the world the oppressors have created, and how little they question it.

Paulo Freire
No oppressive order could permit the oppressed to being to question: Why?

No oppressive order could permit the oppressed to being to question: Why?

Paulo Freire
P26 - Only power that springs from the weakness of the oppressed will be sufficiently strong to free both.

P26 - Only power that springs from the weakness of the oppressed will be sufficiently strong to free both.

Paulo Freire