[Ads-l] Adage: Tell Me and I Forget; Teach Me and I May Remember; Involve Me and I Learn

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

I have received eight requests to explore the popular pedagogical
saying which appears in the subject line. This saying is typically
credited to Benjamin Franklin, Confucius, or Xunzi. There was a
related discussion thread back in December 2014.

http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2014-December/135198.html

Barry Popik has a pertinent entry here:
http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/tell_me_and_i_forget_teach_me_and_i_may_remember_involve_me_and_i_will_lear/

Now the QI website has an entry:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2019/02/27/tell/

The QI entry includes some new information (or information that is not
readily accessible online):
(1) Another precursor version of the saying from the Shuo Yuan
(2) A 1923 translation of the germane passage from Xunzi. This is the
earliest published translation into English known (to me).
(3) Instances in 1953 and 1955. These are the first solid matches known (to me).

Garson O'Toole

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